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Glyconutrition is a relatively new field of medical research. It falls
under the umbrella of Glycobiology.
Back as early as 1960 structures were found on the outside edge of the cells in the body. At first they were thought to be just decorations (on the inside of the body?). It has been discovered that the structures are not just made of protein, as first thought, but also contain complex combination of plant type sugars and actually provide a way for the cells to communicate. The cells can bind, or connect, to each other based on the sequence of the molecules
in the structure. This communications also correctly identifies diseased
cells.
Two structures on the cells, called gylcoprotein or glycolipids, seem to be the most important. They are a combination of carbohydrates (saccharides or sugars) and protein or lipids (fats). There are over 200 of these sugars present naturally in plants. Of these it has been found that only 8 are used in the structures and are essential to cell health. Because the saccharide molecule is so complex, with more junction points, it can have 1000s of configurations. For this reason these structures carry very specific codes used for instructions or communication.
Today's food does NOT contain enough nutrients to sustain our bodies, especially the essential sugars! Both the USDA and the AMA have released statements in the last few years that declare we must now take supplements IN ADDITION TO our regular meals to meet the body's nutritional needs. This is due to over used farm land, pesticides, fertilizers, early harvest and preservatives for longer shelf life. The USDA food composition database proves this out.
Refined sugar, white, brown, or powdered, is not a sugar the body can readily use because the process removes all the other phytochemicals and nutrients. The body must work much harder to make use of this pure carbohydrate and starch because it must find protein, vitamins, and minerals to add back in just so it can begin the process. The typical diet contains so much refined sugars that the body can not metabolize it all and continues to produce insulin in an attempt to do so, resulting in so much insulin in the blood the body detects this danger and actually
may stop making it as well as using a large amount of calcium in the process.
Phytochemicals are non-nutrient plant chemicals that not only give plants color, pigment, smell but contain protective and disease preventing compounds. More than 900 phytochemicals have been identified and more are being found each day. These compounds contain
Plant sterols, Flavonoids, and Antioxidants that strengthen the cells. Just as important,
with proper communications they block disease cells by binding to them so they can not connect to healthy cells.
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