This Second Edition expands and amplifies the research and new information on Beta Glucan and how it can assist the body's immune system. It highlights 20 years of research by Vaclav Vetvicka, Ph.D of Louisville, Ky.B-D-glucans belong to a group of physiologically active compounds called "biological response modifiers" and represent highly conserved structural components of cell walls in yeast, fungi, and seaweed. Glucans stimulate the immune system, but do not overstimulate it to the point where it becomes overactive, and so may be highly effective in such auto-imune illness such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthrisis, allergies, and yeast infections.

This booklet by Roger Mason defines a known powerful immune enhancer. Other reported health benefits: lower cholesterol, fights tumors, normalizes blood sugar and rejuvinates one skin.

Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide and an important food supplement that strengthens the immune system. Beta-glucan can be obtained from many food sources such as mushrooms, yeast, or oats. Beta-glucan has a therapeutic use in the treatment of many diseases, thanks to its immune system strengthening effect. Its use helps curtail the need for administering high levels of antibiotics in case of serious infections. This book presents information about the medical applications of beta-glucan. Starting with an introduction to the basic biochemistry and classification of beta-glucan, the contents explain the readers about its use in treating a variety of medical conditions. These include cancer, allergies, COVID-19, respiratory tract infections, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and many other other endocrinological, immunological and infectious diseases. This book is a comprehensive resource about the medical use of beta-glucan where any reader can find topical information and learn about recent studies on the therapeutic effects of beta-glucan on the treatment of different diseases.

Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology of 1-3 Beta Glucans and Related Polysaccharides presents a comprehensive, systematic and authoritative survey of information about a family of chemically related, but functionally diverse, naturally occurring polysaccharides--the (1-3)-glucans. International contributors describe the chemical and physicochemical properties of these glucans and their derivatives and the molecular biological and structural aspects of the enzymes involved in their formation and breakdown. A detailed analysis of their physiological roles in the various biological situations in which they are found will be provided. Additionally, evolutionary relationships among the family of these glucans will be described. - Topics of medical relevance include detailing the glucans' interactions with the immune system and research for cancer therapy applications - Web resource links allow scientists to explore additional beta glucan research - Separate indexes divided into Species and Subject for enhanced searchability

The investigation of indoor air quality has shown that microbial contamination is often a problem in buildings. Recent evidence indicates that fungi are often a part of the picture. A component of the fungal cell wall, 1 3-glucans not only affect human health, they are a marker for the existence of fungi in environmental samples. Toxicology

A considerable amount of research has emerged in recent years on the science, technology and health effects of oats but, until now, no book has gathered this work together. Oats Nutrition and Technology presents a comprehensive and integrated overview of the coordinated activities of nutritionists, plant scientists, food scientists, policy makers, and the private sector in developing oat products for optimal health. Readers will gain a good understanding of the value of best agricultural production and processing practices that are important in the oats food system. The book reviews agricultural practices for the production of oat products, the food science involved in the processing of oats, and the nutrition science aimed at understanding and advancing the health effects of oats and how they can affect nutrition policies. There are individual chapters that summarize oat breeding and processing, the many bioactive compounds that oats contain, and their health benefits. With respect to the latter, the health benefits of oats and oat constituents on chronic diseases, obesity, gut health, metabolic syndromes, and skin health are reviewed. The book concludes with a global summary of food labelling practices that are particularly relevant to oats. Oats Nutrition and Technology offers in-depth information about the life cycle of oats for nutrition, food and agricultural scientists and health practitioners interested in this field. It is intended to provoke thought and stimulate readers to address the many research challenges associated with the oat life cycle and food system.

Bioactive Polysaccharides offers a comprehensive review of the structures and bioactivities of bioactive polysaccharides isolated from traditional herbs, fungi, and seaweeds. It describes and discusses specific topics based on the authors' rich experience, including extraction technologies, practical techniques required for purification and fractionation, strategies and skills for elucidating the fine structures, in-vitro and in-vivo protocols, and methodologies for evaluating the specific bioactivities, including immune-modulating activities, anti-cancer activities, anti-oxidant activities, and others. This unique book also discusses partial structure-functionality (bioactivities) relationships based on conformational studies. This comprehensive work can be used as a handbook to explore potential applications in foods, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical areas for commercial interests. - Serves as a comprehensive review on extraction technologies, and as a practical guide for the purification and fractionation of bioactive polysaccharides - Brings step-by-step strategies for elucidating the fine structures and molecular characterizations of bioactive polysaccharides - Includes detailed experimental design and methodologies for investigation bioactivities using both in-vitro and in-vivo protocols - Clarifies how to extract, purify, and fractionate bioactive polysaccharides, also exploring health benefits - Useful as a guide to explore the commercial potentials of bioactive polysaccharides as pharmaceuticals, medicine, and functional foods

Today's consumers are looking for food products with health-promoting roles in addition to nutritional benefits. With current research showing that nutraceuticals and functional foods rich in specific bioactives may have chemopreventative effects, these products are increasingly popular. However, while much in the literature supports the health-promoting features of these foods, few texts focus on their bioactive agents and their mode of action in cancer signaling. Nutraceuticals and Cancer Signalling: Clinical Aspects and Mode of Action explains the link between nutraceuticals and cancer in terms of clinical trials and modes of action. This book gives an overview of common cancers and their mechanisms, and the most common functional foods and their bioactive components. Individual chapters focus on specific functional foods--including tomatoes, garlic, honey, tea, yoghurt, and many more--their prominent bioactive compounds, and their mode of action in cancer signaling and chemoprevention. Recent findings on cancer-prevention roles of different vitamins and minerals are also discussed. For food scientists, nutritionists, and pharmaceutical experts looking to understand how functional foods can play a role in fighting cancer, this text serves as a one-stop reference.

This book gathers a collection of essays that describe recent innovations in food technology including food processing, packaging, food safety, and novel ingredients. By 2050, the world will face the challenge of having to feed an estimated 9 billion people. In order to meet that challenge, innovations in food research are of the utmost importance. The book is divided into four sections, each of which explores an important aspect like food processing, food microbiology, and nutritional security. Written by respected scholars in the field, the respective chapters discuss a range of new and enhanced food materials, as well as processing innovations to extend shelf life and reduce toxic effects. The book also addresses the health potential of various nutraceuticals, bio-absorption of metals and their positive impacts on living systems, as well as methods for reducing food wastage, preventing the loss of nutritive value, and preserving or enhancing palatability. Given its scope, the book will be highly interesting for food scientists, both in academia and the food industry. It will also benefit advanced graduate students and senior researchers.

Food biopolymers: Structural, functional and nutraceutical properties provides valuable coverage of all major food biopolymers from plant, animal and marine sources. The text focuses on the structural characteristics of biopolymers including starch, non-starch polysaccharides, proteins and fats. A full section is dedicated to the nutraceutical potential and applications of these polymers. Further sections provide comprehensive overviews of the development of functional food products and important data on biopolymer behavior and nutraceutical potential during processing. Researchers hoping to gain a basic understanding of the techno-functional, nutraceutical potential and applications of food biopolymers will find a singular source with this text. The first section of this work focuses on the the structure, functions, bioactivity and applications of starches. The next chapters cover non-starch polysaccharides. Further sections are dedicated to proteins, lipids and oils. A detailed overview is provided for each, followed by application procedures, specifics on individual types, proteins and enzymes, and nutraceutical properties. This work can be used as a singular source for all relevant information on food biopolymers and their structural and functional properties, including their potential to increase food quality, improve shelf life, and reduce pollution and waste in the food industry.