A type of natural fiber that mimics weight loss injections
Researchers from the University of Arizona have highlighted an easy alternative to weight loss drugs, a type of dietary fiber called beta-glucan, which is a type found naturally in oats and barley.
The effect of one of the oat and barley fibers on the intestines is effective in losing weight and suppressing appetite
According to "Study Finds", the study investigated the effect of different types of dietary fiber on weight loss and metabolic health, and compared them to the effects of drugs such as Ozempic and Semaglutide.
The research found that not all fibers are equal when it comes to slimming benefits.
In the study conducted in the laboratory on mice, it was found that what makes beta-glucan so special is that it increased energy expenditure, meaning it gave the metabolism a nice boost, so the mice that took supplements of this vitamin became more active.
The mice that were fed a high-fat diet with beta-glucan added to it showed a significant decrease in weight gain and body fat compared to those that followed the same diet without the supplement.
But the benefits didn’t stop there. The beta-glucan group also showed improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, two crucial factors in metabolic health.
Even more interesting was what the researchers found inside the mice, specifically in their gut microbiome. Taking beta-glucan supplements led to unique changes in the types of bacteria in the gut, most notably increased levels of butyrate, a beneficial compound produced when gut bacteria ferment certain fibers.
Butyrate is a superfood for the cells lining the gut.
The effects of consuming beta-glucan fiber, found in oats and barley, are similar to some of the benefits seen with a drug like Ozempic.
These weight-loss drugs work by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels.
The researchers found that beta-glucan fiber also stimulates the release of natural GLP-1 in the gut.
