資料來源
http://mannatech.com/DMNews_14Articles.asp
標題
Science Points The Way (8/5/2006)
副題
Mannatech aims to restore nutrients that civilization left behind
For members of ancient hunter-gatherer tribes, scientists believe, as much as 80 percent of dietary intake came from plant sources — most of which was freshly gathered and uncooked.
Although we might delight in starting our day with a pastry and coffee, our ancestors might have preferred freshly dug roots and edible plant gums. A light lunch might have consisted of fruits, beans and nuts. Later, when the hunters returned with the day’s catch, the deer or bison might have been paired with a yummy side of seeds and raw vegetables.
“Genetically, we are almost identical to people from thousands people from thousands of years ago, and our bodies need the kinds of foods that they ate,”says Jane Ramberg, Mannatech’s director of product science. “Obviously, contemporary diets aren’t providing that.”
So what are we moderns to do? The neighbors would probably not approve if they saw you foraging for roots among the wisteria. But relax. There’s no need to go to desperate lengths. Mannatech, the Coppellbased maker of innovative supplements, aims to provide wholesome nutrients in a form that’s practical and cost-effective for consumers.
“We design our products according to what we call ‘intelligent supplementation,’ ” says Robert Sinnott, M.N.S., Ph.D., Mannatech’s chief science officer. “It’s very simple and straightforward: You just have to take a limited number of high-quality products, in amounts that make sense for your needs.”
Key to Mannatech’s approach is the concept of glyconutrients, which addresses wellness at the fundamental level of molecules and cells, rather than focusing on illnesses after they arise.
In recent years, Mannatech’s researchers explain, science has made great leaps in understanding what the body requires from food intake. As with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients whose important roles
have long been established, research has uncovered the critical function of saccharides — sugars that aid every organ of the body by providing a signaling mechanism between cells.
“Cell-to-cell communication occurs through patterns of sugars on different molecules, like letters in an alphabet,” Dr. Sinnott says. “By interacting with each other, molecules can tell whether a cell is a part of your own body or whether it’s a foreign invader, such as a
fungus, virus or a bacteria.”
Numerous studies now support the theory that certain essential bodies need the kinds sugars are lacking in modern diets.
“Plants are the ultimate source of all saccharides, and the diets of
prehistoric humans included several grams daily,” Ms. Ramberg says. “Many of these vital sugars are deficient in our modern diets.”
While the theory of glyconutrients may initially be hard to grasp, the Mannatech answer to dietary deficiencies is not so complicated: The company simply puts science to work at finding the best nutrients in nature, which was, after all, humanity’s original pantry.
“We have a very well-informed customer base, and they are vigilant about wanting natural ingredients,” Ms. Ramberg says. “We strive to create supplements that more closely match what you would find in foods.”
