Living Well
3 Proven Benefits of Beta Glucans
Jun 14, 2017Beta glucans are naturally-occurring polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates with many benefits. They stimulate the immune system by increasing chemicals and white blood cells, which prevent infections. They also lower down the blood cholesterol levels by absorbing cholesterol from the food in the stomach and intestines.
Some common sources of beta glucans are mushrooms, yeast, oats and barley. In fact, medicinal mushrooms, containing them have been used in the Eastern culture for centuries to boost immunity. In Japan, they have been used as an immune system stimulant against cancer since 1980.
Increase Immunity
Beta glucans are immunomodulatory compounds, which means they modulate or activate the immune system, but rarely over-stimulate it. They are known to increase the host immune defences by enhancing the natural killer cell function. Thus, they help immune cells to achieve a well-coordinated attack against pathogens and foreign bodies in the body. And this makes them an excellent immune system booster.
Can Lower The Growth of Cancer Cells
Beta glucans have the ability to lower the growth of the cancer cells, even while stimulating a stronger response from the immune system for protection against foreign bodies. When used along with chemotherapy, they have shown benefits in cancer patients. Research is scant but underway, to prove this in a thorough study. A patent filed by the University Of Louisville Research Foundation claims that beta glucans, when used along with monoclonal antibodies, can help in suppressing or eliminating cancer. Monoclonal antibodies are biological drugs used for the treatment of cancer.
Good For Lowering Cholesterol
Beta glucans are present in oats, which has long been considered a part of the diet of heart patients. In a study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland, male and female participants with slightly higher cholesterol levels were given a regular dosage of oats (containing beta glucans). It was observed that their cholesterol levels reduced with regular intake of oats.
Sharda Agarwal is a qualified Functional Nutrition Therapy Practitioner & a Certified Blood Chemistry Analyst. She first used dietary supplements to overcome a debilitating migraine she suffered for years. Since then she has studied the subjects of nutrition and nutrients extensively. She uses this to manage the health of her family at home and with Sepalika.
Latest posts by Sharda Agarwal (see all)
- COVID-19: What Should You Eat To Boost Your Immunity? - May 27, 2020
- Weight Loss in Intermittent Fasting – Why It Works - September 19, 2019
- 3 Proven Benefits of Beta Glucans - June 14, 2017
References:
Effects of beta-glucans on the immune system.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17895634
Cancer therapy using beta glucan and antibodies
https://google.com/patents/US8883760?cl=fr
Effect of beta-glucan level in oat fiber extracts on blood lipids in men and women.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/9013433/
