Beta glucan is a simple polysaccharide derived from a cell wall of yeast. A little bit complex definition for something that we can simply characterize as a savior of organism in any trouble.
Namely, our body is exposed every day to various harmful microorganisms, and especially to bacteriae that we find everywhere. We carry them in our mouth cavity, urinary tract and colon, respiratory mucosa, eyebrows, really everywhere you can think of. Of course that the same bacteriae aren’t bored throughout the whole day, but they very often dig deeper into the tissue so they could provide us with some diseases. This is not the end. Besides the fact that we carry them, we also find them in our environment.
Here, we are talking about virulent bacteriae and viruses from the environment that are also responsible for certain diseases. Finally, when all of them attack us from different sides, the only effective response is a strong immune system. It represents a complex made out of many organs and tissues that are distributed throughout the body with the main function of protecting the organism.
Organs responsible for immune system cell production and activation are bone marrow, thymus and other lymphatic tissues, but also a number of nutritious and essential elements like vitamins, minerals or phytonutrients. With one word, substances that with their mechanism of action encourage immunity and resistance of the organism are called immunomodulators.
On the side of this superhero are numerous studies that prove that beta glucan successfully builds a defense system against viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic and other disease causers that afterwards consequently make a very strong immune reaction in the body. Furthermore, defense cells are 7 times more active after the activation with beta glucan.
Beta glucan treatment is double. It encourages bone marrow creation, and with it the production of leukocytes and platelets which represent pioneers in defending our organism, but it also encourages creation of macrophages, and cells serving the immune activity.
Just like heroes with some super powers of destructive power, microphages are capable of finding, recognizing and destroying all kinds of disease causers, but also to create a lot of supportive substances in the process of immunological response.
Plainly said, it is a hunter for all intruders in our organism. As beta glucan has captured attention of the experts for years now and it takes the leading places in researches, a whole spectrum of diseases has been discovered where the use of beta glucan has shown as extremely successful therapy:
All kinds of infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteriae and fungi:
- allergies
- chronic inflammations
- tumor diseases
- hematological diseases (leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia…)
- autoimmune diseases (lupus, arthritis, ulcerative colitis colitis, psoriasis…)
- slow and weak wound healing
- postoperative recovery
- exposure to various types of radiation (UV, electromagnetic..)
- atherosclerosis (lowers cholesterol, prevents plaque occurrence)
- mononucleosis
Besides mentioned, beta glucan also showed excellent treatment with recovery from radiation and chemotherapy and more common organism sates like various diets, physical or emotional stress and it is also recommended for athletes.
Proved to be the most effective are Beta- 1,3 and 1,6 glucan which represent the strongest natural activators of the immune system. Beta-1,3 causes admiration of the scientists since its function is activating the principal components of human immune system and it gives it extraordinary strength. It is an almost stunning fact that Beta-1,3 D glucan increases immune activity up to 50-120 % inside the first 72-96 hours of oral intake.
Probably it’s most miraculous treatment is preventing cancer cells from developing. In that case beta glucan enters the interaction and activates macrophages and NK (Natural Killer) cells that afterwards, like a detective in our body, find and destroy tumor cells leaving healthy tissue behind them at the same time.
Its beneficial treatment arises big interest in healthy as well as in sick people that tend to improve the general condition of their organism. For all of those that have been skeptical up until now, it is important to notice that American association FDA has classified beta glucan as G-R-A-S (Generally Recognized as Safe) so it is approved as a natural supplement to nutrition („food supplement“).
Beta glucan is considered a safe and non-toxic molecule so it is possible to take it even in high doses throughout a long period of time. Since it has a wide use and function, it is hard to determine the exact dosage but it depends on the purpose for which it is used, and we advise you to check the package for concentration in the percentage of biologically active relation (1,3;1,6) inside the complex of beta glucan so you could determine the exact dosage on this basis.
It is clear that lower concentration and percentage of active relations requires higher dosage for achieving the same biological performance. As a food supplement, beta glucans are available on the market in liquid form, capsules or tablets, mainly in doses between 100 and 500 mg. in herbal pharmacies, stores with food supplements and in online stores.