Introduction: My name is Peter Graham. I am a full-time counsellor and relationship coach in Perth, Western Australia. My interest in glyconutrients began in 2003 when a friend of mine, retired counsellor Eddie Mace, introduced me to them. He and his family had experienced some amazing results from taking glyconutrient supplements. Since then, I have read several books on the subject, visited dozens of web sites, have listened to about 20 doctors talking about them (seven visiting doctors in person plus various audios and videos), and have asked lots of questions (and I still do). I find the whole subject of glyconutrients and their vital role in health exciting and rewarding and I'm happy to share what I have learnt with others. - Peter Graham

INFO: About 4 or 5 times a year, there are overseas speakers who tour Australia and New Zealand to introduce and educate people about glyconutrients. These are mostly doctors or scientists who have studied glyconutrients or have been personally involved in glyconutrient research or in the development of glyconutrient supplements. Some have written and published books about glyconutrients. If you would like to attend one of these talks, let Peter know (see details below) and he will email you when such tours are scheduled.

8 Essential Sugars

Glyconutrients are a newly recognized (by scientists) class of nutrients which, like vitamins, should ideally be obtained from a good healthy diet. They are well worth looking into by anyone interested in or concerned about their current or future health. There is a LOT of science behind them and thousands of independent scientific studies. There are a number of books on the subject including "The Healing Power of 8 Sugars" co-authored by 20 doctors.

I had never heard of "glyconutrients" before October 2003 and have found very few others who have. I have learnt that they are vitally important to our health. They play an important part in many different functions in the body and especially in accurate cell-to-cell communication (which is vital for the correct functioning of the immune system).

Many people think that "sugars" are bad for us as we already get more than enough, but they don't realize that there are over 200 different simple sugars or carbohydrates (molecules called "mono-saccharides"). Of these over two hundred mono-saccharides, research has shown (so far) that only eight of these are considered essential for the body. And, of these eight, only two are readily available in our modern day diets (glucose and galactose). By the way, table sugar (sucrose) consists of two saccharides, glucose and fructose.

The eight essential sugars are: mannose, galactose, fucose, xylose, glucose, sialic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine.

Glyconutrient Supplements

Glyconutrients are the saccharides in certain foods and nutritional supplements. They are so important that our bodies have developed a backup process for producing seven of the eight essential glyconutrients from one of the more readily available essential saccharides (glucose). This requires many bio-chemical steps, numerous enzymes, and can use up a lot of energy and lead to fatigue. However, this process does not always complete successfully due to dietary problems, missing needed enzymes, environmental toxins, viruses, bacteria, etc. and, under stress, the body may not be able to manufacture enough of the essential mono-saccharides.

Glyconutrient supplements are not drugs and are not a cure or treatment for any particular illness. All they do is help the body to function normally (as it should) so that the body has a better chance of maintaining and healing itself naturally. Accurate communication between cells is VITAL for proper health and to synchronize many bodily functions. Including glyconutrients in our diets and/or taking glyconutrient supplements (just like we take vitamin and mineral supplements) is a way of helping to maintain proper health and longevity.

There are a number of companies that offer glyconutritional supplements, but they are usually "poly-saccharides" (complex sugars), not mono-saccharides. To the best of my knowledge, there is only one company that legally produces and sells glyconutrient supplements that provide the body with the essential mono-saccharides that are needed by almost every cell in the body. This company is also the only one that offers a 100% money-back guarantee of satisfaction. See below for more details on these supplements.

I have been very impressed by the results that I have observed in myself and others who are taking glyconutrients (and who I know personally). People often report that they have experienced a greater sense of wellbeing, have more energy and experience more mental clarity.

The Study of Carbohydrates

The general field is known as glycomics and the study of glyconutrients is called glycobiology. By the way, drug companies are spending BIG trying to synthesize saccharides and create new saccharide molecules that they hope will become the drugs/medicines of the future.

An article in The Weekend Australian national newspaper, August 23-24, 2003, opens with “Glycomics – the study of carbohydrates - is set to be the next big thing in biological research.” It reports that sugars “perform an astonishing range of jobs in the body. They combine with fats and … proteins on cell surfaces, influencing cell-to-cell communication. As well, sugars are central to immune system activities…” “… it’s no wonder that sugars are big players in preventing infection and diseases… Sugars also help regulate conditions such as blood clotting and appetite regulation." This article was about scientific research concerning the role of carbohydrates in the body, not about any particular nutritional supplements.

An article at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) web site entitled Glycomics - Sugars could be biology's next sweet spot (October 2001) highlights the importance of the research into sugars and their roles in the body.

Another article on glycomics appeared in the New Scientist magazine, 26 October 2002. It provides a broad insight into some of the challenges and opportunities posed by glycomics. It starts off with: "Once dismissed as mere decoration, sugar molecules turn out to be vital components in life's intricate machinery."

It has been shown that there are eight essential sugars, six of which are to some degree now lacking in our modern Western diets. The reasons for this include things like soil depletion, the use of artificial fertilizers, picking fruits and vegetables before they are ripe, the way certain foods are processed, plus pollution. We are now exposed to a more toxic environment and our bodies need the resources to cope with this toxic load.

Obtaining Glyconutrient Supplements

If you would like more information about glyconutrient supplements, including where and how to obtain them, what glyconutrient products are available and what they cost, you can either email me or ring me directly on 08 9381 4112 (or, if calling from overseas, +61 08 9381 4112). I will then email, send or give you more detailed information on the various supplements and how to obtain them. If you choose to order some supplements, I will help you to do that and will support you in any way I can.

I live in Wembley (a suburb of Perth) in Western Australia.

Best regards

Peter Graham

Last updated 4th April 2008

Copyright © 2008 by Peter D. Graham. All rights reserved.