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Because of role fucose plays in body, and especially immune system, does it not make sense to support body with supplementation? It is well known that depleted soils, food storage techniques and manufacturing methods all adversely affect levels of nutrients available to us in our modern diets. It is doubtful anyone can obtain enough of this valuable glyconutrient through food alone.
But there is a very good, accessible source of fucose available today. The brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida, considered to be essential to long term health in Japan, is an excellent source of fucose sugar. However, anyone considering using brown seaweed should be sure of its source due to increasing pollution of world's oceans by toxic chemicals and other contaminants. Nonetheless, there are safe brown seaweed products available.
Fucose is a rare sugar not commonly consumed in most people's diets, at least not to a level that is beneficial to body. A better understanding of fucose and important, complex role it plays in our health should lead to a careful consideration of supplementation.
Summary Fucose is a bioactive sugar found throughout body and has been shown to play an active role in immune system function. One abundant source of fucose is brown seaweed. Unfortunately for you, commercially processed seaweed products used in foods do not contain active fucose. But there are safe, active brown seaweed products now on market and supplementation should be considered by anyone seeking optimal health.
Karen Walker is a wellness consultant and author. She works from her home in western Montana. She and her husband, Lynn McCormick, maintain a website to help those whose lives have been upset by catastrophic health events. www.keephealthkeepwealth.com