The Greek word “Glyco” means “Sugar”. Most people think of sugar as being bad for you. However, there are actually TWO kinds of sugars. One is the refined or “extracellular” sugars which have been long associated with human disease. The other sugars are “intracellular” which can be found in fruits and vegetables and provide the body with nutrition it needs. These sugars, also known as “complex carbohydrates”, have been studied for ages. However, only recently have we begun discovering their purpose in the body.
Degenerative Conditions
A growing number of scientists believe that certain carbohydrates represent the next frontier in the quest for non-toxic treatments for various degenerative conditions. Despite the fact that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface in realizing the full potential of these carbohydrates, the research being reported in just the last decade has ignited a new level of confidence and hope with some of the world’s leading immunologists.
The March 23, 2001 issue of Science Magazine is dedicated to the subject of mobile communication and the role that simple sugars play in this stadium. Healthy bodies are comprised of many components working together in sophisticated harmony, and must have accurate internal communication to function correctly. In it’s most basic form, this communication occurs at the cellular level.
Glyconutrients
Glyonutrients form what could be known as the “alphabet” of your body! To maintain a healthy body, cells must “talk” to each other. Their language is one of touch, written in saccharides (or simple sugars) on the cell surfaces. These simple sugars combine with other molecules to make glycoforms such as glycoproteins when combined with proteins or glycolipids when combined with fat. Of the 200 monosaccharides that occur naturally in plants, 8 have been discovered to be components in the cell surface glycoforms (see Harper’s Textbook of Biochemistry–1996).
Like thousands of different “keys” projecting from the cell surface, they will either unlock the required functions of the adjoining cell or not. If the proper keys are available, the body functions smoothly. Otherwise, it does not. Acta Anatomica, a European journal, states that these simple sugars have a coding capacity that surpasses that of amino acids! Only two of the eight monosaccharides are found in the modern diet.
Diets
Our diets have changed in response to the demands for quicker, cheaper food. Consequently, we’re not eating foods that contain the necessary fuels for our cells to communicate in a healthy, effective manner. While our body has the capability to manufacture these simple sugars, the conversion procedure is complicated. During the conversion process your cells are exposed to tens of thousands of free radical hits every day. This requires time, energy and a host of other micronutrients to be able to finish the conversion.
Viruses can also interfere with our body’s ability to make these conversions. People that are sick or who have inborn errors of metabolism are especially vulnerable to a breakdown in the procedure. Whenever the monosaccharides can’t be made, communication is slowed down or impaired because of this. Since your body has over trillion cells and completely regenerates all its cells in about 1 year, any miscommunication or slowdown could cause significant health issues. With millions of cells regenerating every day, it’s easy to imagine what might happen if during this process, the cells did not regenerate properly.
Integratori
This is the reason why glyconutritional supplements are so very important! What exactly are the experts saying about these powerful compounds? Carbohydrates are recognized as necessary for immune function. Cell surface sugars are essential for recognition and immune function.
