There are also good sugars!

Several different mushrooms, seaweed and raw dairy products are important sources of essential sugars.

Fruits and vegetables contain sugars (glyconutrients). They develop naturally in fruit in the last days of ripening due to the sun. But as fruit to be shipped is picked too early (immature) nowadays, it does not contain the eight essential sugars needed for a good immune system anymore. Essential means that our body cannot produce these sugars sufficiently by itself and that we need to supplement this as food.

We used to think that sugars were only important for energy metabolism in our bodies, but research is showing that there are certain sugars that play a very important role in cell communication and therefore in our immune system.

It was found that eight essential individual sugars are necessary for the health of many body functions and systems. This view has led to a new science called glycobiology.

These functions include:

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• Cellular communication: important for so many cell functions, for example the communication with T-cells that are a crucial part of our immune system
• Structural integrity: for example the consistency in connective tissues
• Physical protection: cell is better protected against for example toxines
• Cell-cell adhesion: for example to help certain beneficial bacteria to stay connected to the gut wall

Various foods have natural glyconutrients. Good sources are: sugar beet, Aloe vera, mushrooms (for example Shiitake, Maitake and Reishi), arabinogalactans (e.g. in maize, flour, leeks, carrots, radishes, pears, red wine, coconut, tomato, curcuma and Echinacea and larch tree), pectine from apples and citrus (specially grapefruit), bran (e.g. oatmeal, brown rice, barley, wheat), curcuma (turmeric), mistletoe and Echinacea and seaweed.

1. Glucose (simple sugar)

Properties: Fast energy source. Too much or too little can be problematic. Glucose metabolic disturbances are associated with depression, manic behavior, anorexia, and bulimia.

Food sources: Almost all types of fruit, vegetables and bee products such as bee pollen contain glucose. Also all natural sweeteners like agave, honey etc. contain glucose.

2. Fucose (simple sugar)

Properties: Anti-viral. Supports long-term memory. Guards against lung diseases. Fights allergies. The abnormal metabolism of this saccharide is associated with cystic fibrosis, diabetes, cancer, and herpes — more fucose helps to alleviate these conditions.
Food and Herb Sources of Fucose: Fucose is found in breast milk, kelp, seaweed (this is known as wakame), Japanese brown algae, mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms (Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, Coriolus Vesicolor) and seeds. Kelp contains several essential sugars: Fucose, Xylose, Mannose and Galactose.

3. Galactose (simple sugar)

Properties: Improves the speedy healing of injuries. Improves memory. Improves the absorption of good calcium.

Food and Herb Sources of galactose: Milk (sugar), beans (especially the black-eye), tomato and hazelnut contain many galactose. Black currant (black current seeds, Ribes nigrum L.) contain, in addition galactose and arabinose also galactan. Fenugreek seeds also contain galactose and mannose. Galactose is also found in breast milk in which it arises from the disaccharide lactose.

Most fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and raw dairy products: apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, cherries, cranberries, currants, dates, grapes, kiwi, mangos, oranges, nectarines, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, passionfruit, echinacea, boswellia, fenugreek, chestnuts, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, avocado, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, leeks, asparagus, lettuce, green beans, mushrooms (not button mushrooms), beets, onions, parsnips, green peas, pumpkins, spinach.

4. Xylose (simple sugar)

Properties: Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal. Helps prevent cancer of the digestive system.

Food and Herb Sources of Xylose: Kelp, berries (blackberries, loganberries, raspberries), aloe vera, okra, birch sap, seeds, some common vegetables. Includes: guava, pears, echinacea, boswellia, psyllium, broccoli, spinach, eggplant, peas, green beans, okra, cabbage, and corn.

5. N-Acetylgalactosamine (polysaccharide)

Properties: Inhibits the spread of tumors. Heart disease causes a low-level of this saccharide.
Food and Herb Sources of N-Acetylgalactosamine: N-acetyl galactosamine is found in natural sources: bovine products (such as bone broth), a specific type of red algae (such as nori seaweed) and shiitake mushrooms. Agar is also rich in galactosamine and sialic acid.

6. N-Acetylglucosamine (polysaccharide)

Properties: Immune system modulator. Anti-viral. Anti-inflammatory. Repairs cartilage. Repairs the mucosal-lining that is damaged by Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and interstitial cystitis. Enhances learning.
Food and Herb Sources of N-Acetylglucosamine: N-Acetyl Glucosamine is found in chitin, this solid jacket of insects, worms, shrimp and fungi. Shiitake mushrooms and shark cartilage are also rich in this essential sugar. Chitin was part of the diet of prehistoric man who ate insects.

7. N-Acetylneurominic Acid (polysaccharide)

Properties: Anti-bacterial, anti-viral. Enhances learning and brain development. Abundantly found in breast milk. N-acetyl-neuraminic acid is also known as sialic acid. 

Food and Herb Sources of N-Acetylneurominic Acid: This sugar is essential for example in breast milk, chicken eggs and whey proteins (not the powder). Also in raw dairy products.

8. Mannose (polysaccharide)

Properties: Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral. Reduces inflammation.

Food and Herb Sources of Mannose: Aloe vera, kelp, shiitake mushroom, fenugreek, carob gum, guar gum, black currants, red currants, cranberries, gooseberries, peaches, apples, oranges, green beans, cayenne pepper, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, tomatoes, turnip. 

Benefits

When your nutrition contains sufficient essential sugars:

• It helps your cells to function properly which can help to prevent and cure severe illnesses, even cancer.
• It can help to maintain a good gut health with helpful bacteria if the rest of your nutrition contains enough fibers and other healthy food.
• Support your immune system