(repeat question)
Answer: No more milk.
Introduction
Until recently, scientists have assumed that all the necessary saccharides (sugars) the body needs could be manufactured from simple Glucose. It appears that this is not the case. Cells actually prefer to utilize non-Glucose essential sugars. In addition, sugar was long thought to be nothing more than a fuel needed for energy; but science is finding out that this, too, is not correct. Sugars are necessary for far more than energy.
The following is a short list of definitions for the various forms of sugars:
- Monosaccharide (one sugar molecule) is the simplest form of sugar. Examples are Glucose and Fructose.
- Disaccharide (two sugar molecules). Examples are Sucrose (one molecule of Glucose and one of Fructose), Lactose (one molecule of Glucose and one of Galactose), and Maltose (two Glucose molecules)
- Oligosaccharide (3-6 sugar molecules). These are found in saliva, breast milk and plants, coating mucus membranes. There are more than 130 different combinations of oligosaccharides in human breast milk alone.
- Polysaccharide (many to thousands of monosaccharides). Examples are starch, cellulose, and glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the liver as a back-up fuel. When needed for energy, it is converted back to glucose. Humans cannot digest cellulose, however. Instead, it is mainly used to make paper.
Of the more than 200 known sugars, scientists have discovered that eight are essential for optimal function of the body. These are as follows:
- Fucose (not fructose)
- Glucose
- Galactose
- Mannose
- N-acetylglucosamine (glucosamine)
- N-acetylgalactosamine
- N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid)
- Xylose
Communication
Sugar coats each and every cell in the body. They are now known to be the actual communicators between cells -- and not the proteins that also form on each cell. These cellular communication systems are known scientifically as "multicellular intelligence" which determines what nutrients are needed for the health and wellbeing of that particular cell and its function in the bigger picture.
If cells do not have the right sugars, they are unable to send the proper messages of what their needs are. For instance, essential sugars are very important in establishing blood types: O, A, B, and AB. They can literally determine life or death, not only for each individual cell, but eventually for the organ for which it is responsible. Ultimately, this will affect the entire body.
On a personal level, we are all well aware of what happens when communication breaks down. After not speaking for a while, arguments usually escalate into small "wars". So it is with the communication systems within our bodies. Nothing may seem to be happening when non-communication first takes place, but this soon escalates into ever-increasing dysfunction. To equate this analogy even further, everyone knows what happens when an assembly line breaks down; the whole line ceases to function. The concept is the same for the absence of one essential sugar - tissues begin to fail.
Sugars in the Diet
Although these eight essential sugars have potent healing effects and are proving to reverse the adverse symptoms caused by many chronic diseases, many are still hard to come by in the average diet. Only two of them are common: Glucose (from common table sugar) and Galactose (from milk products and certain pectins).
Although Fructose (found in fruits and table sugar) is common, it is not an essential sugar and should not be confused with one that is -- Fucose.
A third essential sugar that is becoming more common is Glucosamine. It is gaining a reputation as an effective treatment for osteoarthritis. Used alone, or with another sugar called Chondroitin, Glucosamine not only relieves pain and inflammation, but studies confirm that it helps repair damaged cartilage - something no drug has been able to do. (See Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfates)
A fourth essential sugar is also gaining a healing reputation. Mannose is rapidly becoming known as a potent remedy for urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, these last two are not common in the diet and often must be added in supplemental form.
It is important to note that essential sugars should not be taken before a meal. It will not do any harm, but it will not do much good either. The sugars from a meal will go for fuel or storage. When the body has been satisfied, the essential sugars taken after a meal will go for cellular communication.
Studies have shown that these essential eights sugars have the following assets:
- Potent antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antitumor effects
- Helps immune cells recognize invaders by increasing intelligent cell communication
- Enables cellular components to “stick” to each other so as initiate the right reactions
- Raises natural killer cell and macrophage counts against infectious organisms
- Increases the body’s resistance to viruses, including those that cause the common cold, influenza, herpes, and hepatitis
- Activates immune T-cell activity only when invaders or antigens are present
- Reduces allergies and chronic disease symptoms of arthritis, diabetes, lupus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, cancer, kidney disease, and others
- Decreases cell death in chronic fatigue syndrome
- Elevates disease resistance in weakened individuals
- Accelerates burn and wound healing
- Helps heal such skin conditions as poison ivy and psoriasis
- Reduces the number of recurrent ear infections
- Acts as antioxidant compounds
- Protects the body against toxin and pollutant exposure
- Slows the aging process
- Decreases inflammation
