How Does Beta Glucan Help Fight Cancer?

The Western world is only recently becoming privyfighters and they, in turn, go about seeking the
to the health benefits of beta glucan. However, thecancer cells in order to destroy them. It is remarkable
Japanese and the Chinese, in their wisdom, havethat the healthy cells are left untouched.
been using it as an immunostimulant to treat differentBone marrow usually produces an inadequate number
cancers since 1980s.of new cells in cancer patients and beta glucan can
Human body is designed to take only certain amountact as a booster and stimulate more production and
of stress, though it may vary from individual toa steady and fuller flow is facilitated. The blood
individual. The body, so weakened by stress loses itsstream can carry the immunocytes into all lymphoid
immunity in a large measure and this makes itorgans.
susceptible to tumors. The immunocytes that act asThe antibodies that curb the growth of cancer cells
watchmen against carcinogenic cells' spreading couldcan not be strong enough to fight them all on its
do with reinforcements and this is where beta glucanown and this sugar molecule beta glucan makes it
can come in handy. It provide the additional strengtheasy them to do this. The specific antibodies that
to immunocytes.form after recognition is made of the tumor cells bind
It stimulates macrophages that defend the bodythemselves to the cancer cells. The cancer cells are
against invading carcinogenic cells. Since it is a workcoated with C3 fragments that are in the antibodies
that is carried out constantly, it is a great help that itand the coated cells are destroyed.
provides to the macrophages.Beta glucan is extracted mainly from Baker's yeast
Natural Killer cells are cytotoxic lymphocyte thatcell wall. It is also found in barley and oats. It is a
target cancel cells and kill them. These too aresugar molecule which is called polysachcharides.
stimulated by it. It binds itself to both the cancerSodium alginate is rich in it too.