Natural Food Supplements: Beta-1,3-Glucan, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Bovine Cartilage And Cerasomal-c

Beta-1,3-Glucan

Beta-l,3-glucan is a polysaccharide (a complex type of carbohydrate molecule) with immune-stimulating properties. Specifically, it stimulates the activity of macrophages, immune cells that destroy cellular debris, microorganisms, and abnormal cells by surrounding and digesting them.

Beta-l,3-D-glucan is a supplemental form of beta-1,3-glucan made from the cell walls of baker's yeast. Despite its origin, it does not contain any yeast proteins. It is useful for treating many bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases. It can also kill tumor cells and increase bone marrow production.

Because of its ability to protect the immune system, beta-l,3-D-glucan may protect against the effects of aging. Studies done as early as the 1970s have found that it can reduce the size of cancerous tumors in rats. Further investigation has shown beta-l,3-D-glucan to be a potent agent for healing sores and ulcers in women who have undergone astectomies.

Bifidobacterium Bifidum

Bifidobacterium bifidum aids in the synthesis of the B vitamins by creating healthy intestinal flora. B. bifidum is the predominant organism in the intestinal flora and establishes a healthy environment for the manufacture of the B-complex vitamins and vitamin K.

When you take antibiotics, the "friendly" bacteria in your digestive tract are destroyed along with the harmful bacteria. Supplementing your diet with B. bifidum helps you maintain healthy intestinal flora. Unhealthy flora can result in the liberation of abnormally high levels of ammonia as protein-containing foods are digested. This irritates the intestinal membranes. In addition, the ammonia is absorbed into the bloodstream and must be detoxified by the liver, or it will cause nausea, a decrease in appetite, vomiting, and other toxic reactions. By promoting the proper digestion of foods, the friendly bacteria also aid in preventing digestive disorders such as constipation and gas, as well as food allergies. If digestion is poor, the activity of intestinal bacteria on undigested food may lead to excessive production of the body chemical histamine, which triggers allergic symptoms.

Yeast infections of the vaginal tract respond very favorably to douching with B. bifidum preparations. These microorganisms destroy the pathogenic organisms. When used as an enema, B. bifidum also helps establish a healthy intestinal environment. It improves bowel function by aiding peristalsis, and results in the production of a softer, smoother stool. Harmful bacteria are kept in check, and toxic wastes that have accumulated in the intestines are destroyed and/or eliminated from the body.

B. bifidum has proved useful in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver and chronic hepatitis; by improving digestion, it reduces the strain on the liver. Many people who do not respond to L. acidophilus react positively to B. bifidum. Many experts consider B. bifidum to be preferable to L. acidophilus for children and for adults with liver disorders.

Bovine Cartilage

Cleaned, dried, and powdered bovine cartilage is a supplement that helps to accelerate wound healing and reduce inflammation. Like shark cartilage, it has been shown to be helpful for psoriasis, all types of arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.

VitaCarte from Phoenix BioLabs contains pure bovine cartilage from range raised, hormone free cattle. Another cartilage supplement, shark cartilage, is also available, and may be preferred by some individuals.

Cerasomal-cis-9-cetylmyristoleate

This is a modified version of a medium-chain fatty acid, cetylmyristoleate, which is found in nuts, vegetables, and animal tissue. It appears to be a very promising development in arthritis research. Studies in laboratory rats have shown it to have anti-inflammatory effects, and early clinical studies in people suggest it may be beneficial for many with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, as well as psoriasis. It is believed to work by normalizing the functioning of the immune system and reducing the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. While this supplement is often referred to simply as CMO, that is actually a trademarked name for a ceraso-mal-cis-9-cetylmyristoleate product, not a generic term. A good source of this supplement is CM+ from Metabolic Response Modifiers.

Chlorella

Chlorella is a tiny, single-celled water-grown alga containing a nucleus and an enormous amount of readily available chlorophyll. It also contains protein (approximately 58 percent), carbohydrates, all of the B vitamins, vitamins C and E, amino acids, and rare trace minerals. In fact, it is virtually a complete food. It contains more vitamin 612 than liver, plus a considerable amount of beta-carotene. It has a strong cell wall, however, which makes it difficult to gain access to its nutrients. Consequently, it requires factory processing to be effective.

Chlorella is one of the few edible species of water grown algae. The chlorophyll in chlorella can help speed the cleansing of the bloodstream. Chlorella is very high in RNA and DNA, and has been found to protect against the effects of ultraviolet radiation. Studies show that chlorella is an excellent source of protein, especially for people who cannot or who choose not to eat meat. It is available from Sun Chlorella USA.

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