“… A Spoonful of Sugar is the Medicine Going Down.”

-Sharon Riesen, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Loma Linda University

A glyconutrient is a sugar. Without these sugars, your cells would be in a perpetual identity crisis because glyconutrients are needed to make the nametags on the surface of your cells. Eight of these sugars are important to health.  A 2002 study showed that individuals with fibromyalgia who took a combination of different supplements, including glyconutrients, experienced significant improvement in their symptoms.

Mannose prevents infection and inflammation and has been used in studies to support Rheumatoid Arthritis, lupus, and to lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels in diabetics. Glucose, or table sugar, is generally over-consumed, but has been found deficient in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Galactose is found in dairy products. This sugar enhances wound healing and decreases inflammation. Fucose is found in human breast milk and certain mushrooms. Fucose metabolism is thought to be abnormal in diabetics and during episodes of shingles. This sugar guards against respiratory tract infections and inhibits allergies. Lower-than-normal levels of N-acetylgalactosamine have been found in people with heart disease. It helps repair cartilage, decreases pain and inflammation, and increases range of motion in osteoarthritis. This sugar also supports Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and interstitial cystitis. Arabinogalactan fights specific cancers, hepatitis B and C, chronic fatigue and infections. N-Acetylneuraminic acid is anti-viral. In Sjogren’s Syndrome and in alcoholics, the processing of this sugar is disturbed. Xylose is often used to sweeten sugarless gum and is a good non-toxic sugar substitute.

Glyconutrient Sources

N-Acetylglucosamine

Red algae
Shark cartilage
Shiitake mushroom

Arabinogalactan

Carrots
Coconut
Echinacea
Tomatoes

Glucose

Aloe Vera
Bananas
Cherries
Cocoa
Echinacea
Garlic
Grapes
Hawthorn
Herbs
Honey
Licorice
Mangoes
Sarsaparilla
Strawberries

Fucose

Breast milk
Seaweed
Yeast

N-Acetylneuraminic Acid

Hen eggs
Whey protein isolate

Galactalose

Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Avocadoes
Bananas
Beetroot
Blackberries
Boswellia
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cherries
Chestnuts
Cranberries
Cucumbers
Currants
Dates
Echinacea
Eggplant
Grapes
Green beans
Kiwi Fruit
Leeks
Lettuce
Mangoes
Mushrooms
Nectarines
Onions
Oranges
Parsnip
Passionfruit
Peaches
Pears
Peas
Pineapple
Plums
Potatoes
Prunes
Pumpkin
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Spinach
Strawberries
Tomatoes

Xylose

Aloe Vera
Blackberries
Boswellia
Broccoli
Cabbage
Echinacea
Eggplant
Green beans
Guava
Loganberries
Okra
Pears
Peas
Psyllium Seeds
Raspberries
Spinach

Note: Glyconutrients are only found in vine-ripened produce. In addition, overall nutrient content decreases with processing and storage. In other words, for maximum glyconutrient intake it is advisable to consume fully ripened fresh fruit and vegetables, which are minimally processed.

Glyconutrients can also be purchased in supplement form.

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