BLOG. D-Beta Glucans

D-Beta Glucans and the Immune System

Although many of you may be unfamiliar with D-Beta Glucans prior to reading this, I assure you they are working hard for you. So let’s dive in!

So what exactly are D-Beta Glucans??

D-Beta Glucans are polysaccharides that are water soluble and contain glucose (or sugar). They can be found in the cell walls of many plants, including oats, algae, bacteria and yeast.

Why are they so important?

D-Beta Glucans are vital for a healthy and thriving immune system. The D-Beta Glucans are what activate our macrophages, which are our powerful immune defenders. You can think of these macrophages kind of like pac-men (one of my favorite games!), they come in and eat everything. So our D-Beta Glucans activate these macrophages which then come onto the scene to eat everything that isn’t supposed to be there, awesome!

The D-Beta Glucans also help to improve the communication between the macrophages and the T-cells. So once the macrophages eat everything, they then have antigen presenting cells to the T-cells and the B-cells. The T-cells and the B-cells are also major players, and come in to help attack the antibodies and infected cells, and secrete interferon.

Have I lost you?!?! Stay with me for a little longer! To put it simply think about the D-Beta Glucans activating the major players of the immune system to get rid of everything that shouldn’t be there and to improve overall communication in our immune system.

The best part is that not only are D-Beta Glucans essential for immune health but they have also been shown to help lower cholesterol levels, specifically LDL, and are great for heart health because they help to maintain proper blood lipid levels. D-Beta Glucans have an anti-viral affect, which is great for flu season that’s right around the corner!

So where can you find them? Some great sources of D-Beta Glucans are

shitaki mushrooms, reishi mushrooms, seaweed, oats, yeast, rye and wheat. Try adding some of these foods into your diet to help boost your immune system and overall health!

Need a boost? Here are my top 5 ways to boost your immune system this season.

Get enough sleep! This one is critical. Your body requires 7-8 hours of sleep each night to reset and restore. Our bodies work so hard when we sleep, ensuring that we are able to function at our peak.

Stay hydrated. It is recommended that you drink half your body weight in water. Keep the fluids up, and keep the flu out.

Up your Vitamin C. Increase your consumption of Vitamin C rich fruits. Did you know strawberries contain more Vitamin C than an orange? Eat up!

Daily dose of elderberry. Many naturopathic doctors and holistic nutritionists recommend taking elderberry to boost your immune system. My family and I have been taking our daily dose for years now to keep us healthy!