Re: Splenda?/glyconutrient

[Guest guest]

Essential 8

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

October 14, 2004

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Dear Reader,

Q: When is sugar a good thing?

A: When it's a glyconutrient.

On the HSI Forum, a member who identifies himself as " b5 " asks:

" Please explain what glyconutrients are and why I would need

them? "

The short answer to b5's question is simple: Glyconutrients are

natural sugar compounds, essential for maintaining good health.

The longer answer reveals a fascinating field of nutrition that the

MIT Technology Review called one of the ten emerging

technologies that will change the world.

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Sugar coated

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Research over the past decade has demonstrated the importance of

essential fatty acids and essential proteins (amino acids). Now

scientists and nutritionists are just beginning to understand that

there are essential sugars as well. Eight essential sugar compounds

function individually as building blocks to assemble a nearly

infinite variety of complex molecules known as glycans or sugar

chains.

In an article in the February 2004 HSI Members Alert, contributing

writer Arnold noted that there are two key ways that

glyconutrients impact our health: 1) " These sugars can prevent

viruses and bacteria from adhering to cells by taking up all their

receptor sites. If the virus or bacteria can't bind to a cell, they

can't

make you sick; it's as simple as that. Turns out other sugar chains

can work in similar ways to bind up all sorts of viruses and

bacteria in other parts of the body. "

And 2) " There's another more complex role that these sugar chains

play in the body. Glycans form a sugar coat around every single

cell in the body, as well as filling up the spaces in between cells.

They act as a sort of information super highway for the body,

regulating communication both within the cell and between that

cell and other cells. "

Sugar chains play a vital role in nearly every physiological

process, including immune system response, tissue regeneration

and cell replication. One of the most important functions of

glycans is the facilitation of brain functions. For instance,

serotonin and other neurotransmitters require glycan receptors in

order to bind to the surface of nerve cells. Memory, stress response

and other critical brain functions may become debilitated without

the adequate assistance of glyconutrient sugar chains.

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The source

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If you eat a diet rich in unprocessed fruits and vegetables, you're

supplying your body with many glyconutrients. But just because

they're sugars doesn't mean they taste sweet. For instance: Fucose,

xylose and mannose are three of the eight essential sugar

compounds. Mushrooms and seeds contain fucose; rye, barley and

yeast contain xylose; and mannose can be found in broccoli,

cabbage and seeds.

Problems arise when any of the foods mentioned above are highly

processed. For instance, grapes and onions deliver glucose, one of

the eight glyconutrients. But when glucose is processed into table

sugar, nutrients and fiber are completely stripped away,

transforming it from good nutrition into something that can

compromise your health.

So the absence of unprocessed glyconutrients in the average diet is

a concern. As HSI Medical Advisor, Milner, N.D., stated in

the February Members Alert, " We are finding glyconutrient

deficiencies associated with a large range of diseases. "

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Collect all 8

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Of the eight basic glyconutrients, most diets only deliver

sufficient

amounts of two: glucose and galactose (a milk sugar). Trace

amounts of the other six are picked up here and there, but modern

agricultural methods, food processing and chemical contamination

have all but erased them from our food supply.

In recent years, research has shown that supplementary

glyconutrients may improve cellular communication, with a

positive impact on a wide range of conditions; from skin aging and

bacterial infection to debilitating illnesses like muscular

dystrophy,

atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

In his private practice, Dr. Milner has begun using a

glyconutritional supplement that provides all eight essential sugar

compounds. The supplement is called Ambrotose, and it's

specifically designed for immune system support. You can find

more information at cnm-inc.com.

In the same way that daily multi-vitamin use has reached

mainstream acceptance, proponents of glyconutrition believe that

someday even conventional medicine will recognize the benefits of

a daily " multi-glycan " to prevent many of the communication

errors between cells that lead to depleted immune defenses,

allergic reactions, and chronic diseases.

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