Primal foods that contain most or all eight essential saccharides include rice bran, barley bran, oat bran, mushrooms, yeast cell walls, aloe vera and gum sugars. Most of these sugars are not sweet but bitter and thus have a low glycemic index. Other glyconutrient rich primal foods include garlic, onions, leeks, carrots, fenugreek, psyllium seeds, radishes, pears, coconut meat, tomatoes, beans, kelp and figs.
To learn more let's read the research by Patrick Lecky on the eight essential sugars and their role in maintaining health.
Eight Essential Sugars
Mannose. Researchers consider mannose to be the dominant glyconutrient. Its major function is fostering cell communication and aiding tissue remodeling. Mannose lowers blood sugar and triglyceride levels in diabetics. It can also speed healing, inhibit tumor growth and spread, prevent bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections and ease the inflammation of rhematoid arthritis.
As noted before, one of the main sources of mannose is aloe vera. Aloe contains the polysaccharide acemannan, which is simply different sized chains of mannose molecules. Kelp, shiitake mushrooms and ground fenugreek are also sources of mannose.
Glucose. This sugar is everywhere. You don’t need to supplement it. Table sugar (sucrose) is composed of two simple sugars: glucose and fructose. Glucose is also in aloe and many, many fruits and vegetables. In the correct amounts, glucose enhances memory and cellular communication and stimulated calcium absorption.
Galactose. Lactose (milk sugar) is comprised of two simple sugars: glucose and galactose. As you know, lactose is abundant in dairy products such as milk and yogurt. In animal studies it protected the mice from cataracts. It also inhibits tumor growth and spread, particularly to the liver, aids in wound healing, decreases inflammation, enhances cellular communication and increases calcium absorption. Galactose also fosters long-term memory formation.
Fucose (not fructose) Certain mushrooms and breast milk are rich in this sugar. Studies with animals indicate that it influences brain development and helps the brain to create long-term memories. it also inhibits tumor growth and spread. High concentrations are found at the junctions between nerves, in the kidneys and in the outer skin layer. It protects against allergic reactions and inhibits respiratory tract infection. The functioning of fucose is especially abnormal in those suffering from diabetes, cancer, cystic fibrosis and shingles. Kelp seaweed has an abundance of fucoidan, a polysaccharide containing lots of fucose. Fucoidan also has xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose.
N-Acetylgalactosamine. This sugar inhibits tumor spread and enhances cellular communication. Heart disease patients are woefully lacking in this saccharide. Bovine and shark cartilage have an abundance of this sugar and also have N-acetylglucosamine. It is predominantly in the chondroitin 4-sulfate form of chondroitin derived from bovine cartilage, which is considered better than shark cartilage. Shark cartilage may have heavy metal contamination. Chondroitin is used to treat the joints of osteoarthritis patients.
N-Acetylglucosamine. This sugar is an immune modulator that has antitumor characteristics. Besides cartilage, shiitake mushrooms are abundant in this sugar. Glucosamine, derived from N-acetylglucosamine, helps repair cartilage and decreases pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis. In animal studies, researchers have found that this sugar is vital to learning.
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid. Abundant in breast milk, this sugar is critical for learning, brain development, memory and performance. It helps to repel bacteria, viruses and other invaders. Animal studies have shown that it inhibits strains of influenza A and B viruses more effectively than prescription antivirals. It also influences blood coagulation and cholesterol levels and lowers LDL cholesterol. The processing of this sugar is disturbed in alcoholics. It is also known as sialic acid, and good sources are whey protein isolate and organic raw eggs. Be sure to buy whey protein isolate or whey protein concentrate and not just whey protein or whey powder.
Xylose. This antibacterial and antifungal may also help prevent cancer of the digestive tract. People suffering from colitis and other intestinal disorders have decreased absorption of xylose. Since it doesn’t promote tooth decay or spike blood sugar some manufacturers substitute xylose for corn sweeteners or sucrose in toothpaste and chewing gum marketed to diabetics. Kelp seaweed and ground psyllium seeds also contain xylose.
Source: Patrick Lecky, The Diabetic Warrior