Glyconutrients - What’s all the Hype?
If you haven’t heard of glyconutrients, the chances are you probably don’t have a friend or relative involved in selling them on their multi-level sales structure! Whilst I don’t think all multi-level sales are bad, I’m always a little wary of this type of marketing.
So, what are glyconutrients?
Glyconutrients apparently help the immune system by working ‘naturally’ with it, blocking bacteria from attaching to the body’s cells - if the bacteria can’t get through, they can’t make us sick.
According to the magazine “Breakthroughs in Health” (Vol 1, Iss 2), “Some researchers have raised concerns that our modern diets, depleted of many phytochemicals and often loaded with chemical additives and pesticides, don’t provide our body’s cells - including the highly complex cells of the immune system - with what they need to function properly. Fortunately, research suggests there’s a simple way to enhance and condition our cellular communication and other aspects of your immune system using healthy sugars, also known as saccharides, which are found in glyconutrients.”
Mark from Mark’s Daily Apple says, “The entire concept of supplementing with “glyconutrients” - minute amounts of plain old simple sugars - is not only unscientific; it’s just silly.”
Glyconutrients - A concept created by Mannatech
Mannatech have a range of different products which they sell internationally, via sales representatives. Ambrotose is the brand name they use for a mixture containing the glyconutrients (plant sugars).
At Mannatech conferences, Mr McDaniel a pathologist, “Sells various reports containing case histories. He says he has chronicled hundreds of cases of patients with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, and cystic fibrosis whose health improved, and some whose symptoms disappeared, after taking glyconutrients.” There are others claiming these products have helped conditions, such as paralysis, tumors, leukemia, arthritis, and Down syndrome.
The disclaimer on the Mannatech web site does state that “Mannatech products are not designed for use in the treatment of disease” - enough said? However, many of the Mannatech representatives suggest that the products can cure particular diseases, such claims are then repeated in parrot-like fashion, and they spread like wildfire.
I’ve read the testimonials - they sure are convincing, but where oh where is the scientific evidence?? Don’t get me wrong, I would really love to believe in these products, but I do fear that this company is a complete fraud.
I carried out a PubMed search but I just can’t find any studies. Now, call me skeptical, but if you had a product that was so wonderful, wouldn’t you have a list of studies as long as your arm to prove how amazing it really was? They’ve been around since 1994 - but still there’s no science to add credibility to the products.
If anyone knows of real, scientific studies, carried out on humans, please drop me a line.
The danger with products like these is that when someone is diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, understandably many begin looking for alternative therapies. However, people are vulnerable at this point, and I fear they will not only lose money, but they will also lose precious time as well.
Medical conditions are extremely complex, requiring professional help, please think very carefully before you believe the marketing hype.
Here are a few discussions on the topic:
- An Honest Discussion Regarding ‘Glyconutrient’ Products
- A Friendly Sceptic Look at Glyconutrients and Ambrotose
- Glyconutrients: a Sweet Scam
- Health Claim by Mannatech Sales Force Scrutinized
Did you enjoy this article? Please be kind enough to share it -
You may also like to read the following:
