What is Glucan Good for?

Function

• According to the Cancer Cure Foundation, beta glucans are used to stimulate the immune system. The website indicates that beta glucan activates a certain type of white blood cell called a macrophage. Macrophages improve overall health by boosting the body's ability to fight infection and disease.
  
  

Benefits

• Beta glucans are used to treat patients whose immune systems have been compromised or damaged. People with chronic or life threatening medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer and HIV benefit from its ability to trigger the body's natural immune system. Web MD indicates that beta glucans are also useful in topical form for smoothing wrinkles and treating burns and ulcers.
  
  

Potential

• A study conducted in 2006 by Dr. Elke Naumann investigated the effects of beta glucan on body cholesterol. Studies on 47 men and women found that a fruit drink containing beta glucan lowered cholesterol when used daily for an eight-week period.