Fucose is a Glyconutrient. There are 8 saccharides that make up this family: Mannose, Glucose, Galactose, Xylose, Fucose (not fructose), N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylneuramic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine.
Fucose can be found in natural products like seaweed and echinoderms. From ancient times humans have consumed them. The original gelatin was often made from seaweed before artificial gelatin was developed.
When handling wet kelp you will experience a slimy sensation. This is largely due to fucoidans on the surface of the seaweed. When you pull apart the "slime" you will see long threads. These are the extended chains of fucoidan polysaccharides(including fucose)
Brown seaweed kelp is used to extract alginates for industrial, pharmaceutical, and food purposes but for a long time Fucoidans were not considered. Now research has revealed that Fucoidans have been found to have medicinal benefits like anticoagulants.
Fucoidans are made up mainly of the saccharide fucose. They have been found in brown marine algae and echinoderms like sea urchins and sea cucumbers. They are used in a number of medicines including ones for anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapy.
There are many different types of brown kelp, which vary in the amount of fucose they have. Research is only just now being done on this little known area of science. The kelp has been a highly prized food and medicine for many centuries. The substance, extracted from the kelp, Fucus Vesiculosus contains 16 different fucans.
They assist the kelp plant by protecting it and help its cell walls not to get damaged with changing salt concentrations. They also help the kelp and echinoderms with their reproductive systems.
Fucose is also useful for helping the human immune system and assisting the body to ward off infections, diseases and toxins. Other uses are help with inflammatory conditions and ulcers. Not only the brown kelp but also the Japanese seaweed Mozuku is used for extracting Fucoidan.
Fucose can also have an effect on enzymes by promoting and inhibiting them. It has been found to be helpful against snake venom and bites. By controlling the enzymes that can cause the venom damage.
There are many uses for this useful glyconutrient and it is only just recently that these uses are coming to light. As scientists do more research they are discovering new uses for this saccharide and the other glyconutrients. The new research is called Glycobiology and is named after the Glyconutrients they are investigating.
Only during the last 10 years scientists have been researching the family of foods known as the carbohydrates. Because of their complex nature it took time for scientists to understand and be able to analyze them. Now as they go deeper into their structure and uses they are finding the immense benefits that Glyconutriants hold for the mankind.
Related Articles
What is N-acetylneuramic Acid ?
By: Zachary Thompson | 06/06/2006 | Health
N-acetylneuramic acid is one of the 8 saccharides known as Glyconutrients the others are: • Mannose • Glucose • Galactose • Xylose • Fucose (not fructose) • N-acetylglucosamine • N-acetylgalactosamine N-acetylneuramic acid is used in the learning proces
Glyconutrients are Essential Sugars
By: Suzie Goldie | 06/03/2008 | Health
Glyconutrients are nutritional plant based carbohydrates that when consumed provide your body what it needs to produce cell surface structures called glycoproteins. These glycoproteins are the key to effective cellular communication and proper body cell functions.
Benefits of Antioxidants in our Food
By: Suzie Goldie | 27/03/2008 | Health
Everyone has heard the news about antioxidants and their benefits in maintaining good health and proper nutrition. It seems the more scientists learn about antioxidants, the more their value and potential increases.
Goji Juice - Improving Wellness - 1 Ounce at a Time
By: Zach Thompson | 21/08/2008 | Wellness
Feeling tired lately even when you have had enough sleep? Maybe your body is lacking all the glyconutrients that it needs.
Start Your Day with Glyconutrients
By: Zach Thompson | 02/09/2008 | Alternative Medicine
You may wonder what the big deal about glyco nutrients is. After all you are eating a healthy, low fat diet, try to get a little exercise and sleep when you can. What else can you do to keep your energy level up and get through your day?
Get that Zip Back in Your Stride with Glyco Nutrients
By: Zach Thompson | 04/09/2008 | Wellness
Start your day with goji Juice: If the stresses of life have got you down, if you get up tired after a full nights sleep it may be time to try adding some glyco nutrients to your diet.
Scientific Studies Done with Glyconutrients
By: Zach Thompson | 15/09/2008 | Nutrition
Glyconutrients are the building blocks of cell to cell communication and help keep the body's processes running smoothly. These glyco nutrients are not widely available in our modern diet but there is a way to make sure that your body gets all the glyconutrients that it needs each day, drinking a small amount of goji juice each day.
Glyconutrients: Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
By: Zach Thompson | 15/09/2008 | Wellness
If you are one of the millions of people across the globe that feels as if their health could be improved, you may have done some research about dietary supplements. In your quest you may have come across the term 'glyconutrients' and wondered if indeed they could help you to obtain better health and wellness.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can glyconutrients help dystonia ?
By: rad | 25-07-2008
can glyconutrients help dystonia ?
Q&A Powered by:
More from Zachary Thompson
Strategy For Effective and Cheap Backlinks
By: Zachary Thompson | 08/08/2008 | Internet
If you're like most small business owners, you are always in the market for more back links to your website to improver your website's position in the organic search results on Google & Yahoo!
In the past, the challenge has been to balance link quality against the prohibitive cost associated with...
Why Real-World Training For MLM?
By: Zachary Thompson | 23/06/2008 | Marketing
When you are looking to make big money using any kind of marketing to generate wealth, it pays to have the guidance of an expert. While there are a lot of MLM marketing "gurus" in this world, there is no question that one expert who tops the list is Robert...
Who is Robert Blackman?
By: Zachary Thompson | 12/06/2008 | Leadership
It is inspirational to look at a brilliant career of someone who really blazed a new trail in their field. Those are the kinds of leaders who show us all the way to success if we feel our field of expertise will be in the same area as that great...
"I Want You" - To Work From Home
By: Zachary Thompson | 14/02/2008 | Business
Are you looking for real freedom? Do you want more time for your family and hobbies?
Why would a Waiora Distributorship have anything to do with your financial freedom and your dreams?
Waiora Inc., a 3 year old nutritional company, is widely known for its product, Natural Cellular Defense also known as...
Considerations For Business Startups
By: Zachary Thompson | 11/02/2008 | Business
Do you want to start a new business? There are many different things that you need to consider with business startup. Planning ahead will help you become very successful in your new business.
No matter what the business, you need to have a goal for the business. Yes, we all want...
Business Opportunities For The Fitness Industry
By: Zachary Thompson | 11/02/2008 | Business
There are many business opportunities in the fitness industry today. Often people overlook the various business opportunities because they do not know about them. Focusing on the various business opportunities is a great way to expand your marketability in the fitness industry.
You might be wondering what exactly a business opportunity...
Benefits Of A Wellness Home Business
By: Zachary Thompson | 11/02/2008 | Business
There are many benefits of a home business in the wellness industry. The wellness industry is one of the fastest growing markets today. Many entrepreneurs are reaping the benefits of a home business in this industry.
One of the benefits of a home business it the ability to set your own...
Choosing A Good Multi-level Marketing Company For Your Business
By: Zachary Thompson | 01/02/2008 | Business
One of the important things you need to consider when you look into network marketing is choosing a good Multi-level marketing company. There are many companies out there but not all of them are legal and above board. Some are run by rank amateurs others by unscrupulous scammers. However not...
Self Improvement 
