I was reading about this soluble fibre the other day and was interested to find that Angela Rippon took it when she found out, as part of her research for the 'How to stay young' programme: that, although she has an enviable slim figure; she has (or had) a lot of visceral fat around her organs.
There are lots of reviews on Amazon where you seem to get two kinds of reaction to this fibre: you either lose weight effortlessly because it specifically targets visceral fat or your stomach swells up!
I have a feeling about which one I would get and it won't be the effortless weight loss....
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MoonbeamXX1
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I use inulin powder but not for weight loss, I haven't heard of that claim to be honest. Claims of breaking fat...hmmmmm.....I would like to see some written evidence on that! If that was the case then that would be the obesity crisis solved in one fell swoop and humanity saved
edit: I have also just read a review that people think it helps break down fatty liver, again evidence needed. Hmmmmm! I take a lot of this with a pinch of salt. Remember the hoo-ha with Raspberry Ketones, it's all advertising BS (pardon my French) sponsored by z-lebrities on their social media platforms and the desperate public fall for it and lap it up.
I use it because I make homemade sauerkraut and kefir water which contains "friendly" bacteria which populate our intestines, our microbiome. Inulin is classed as a soluble fibre (mine is sourced from chicory) prebiotic and is very much liked by the probiotic bacteria and I want to keep the little guys happy! So yes it is used as part of managing a healthy gut and hopefully with a healthy gut you do not get bloating etc. which will give you a trimmer waistline.
The powder has a tiny tiny hint of sweetness and is soluble so is often used in baking and can be added to drinks. I put mine in a herbal tea that I have in the evening.
If you get wind using it then it might be better to add it gradually.
Yes, I've taken a tablespoon of inulin for a few years. For colon health. I take it along with whole psyllium seeds and acacia fiber. All soaked in water for at least a few hours, to allow them to swell up prior to consumption. These fibers will increase butyric acid and other short chain fatty acids in the colon, which is very good for colon health, and the health of the microbiome in the colon.
I don't have any negative reaction to it, nor to the whole psyllium seeds or the acacia fiber. On the contrary, I have a good response and feel that they are very healthy for the colon.
Generally it is recommended to start off with just a small amount of these fibers, and build up gradually, to accustom the body to them, or just to make sure you will not have any untoward response.
The likely reason for the bloating is SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) which is quite common in hypothyroidism due to slower digestive transit. When I tried inulin I got massive bloating with uncomfortable trapped wind.
I don’t need to lose any weight but I’m sure there are better ways to do it if that’s your goal. Flax seed is good for fibre and easy to mix into porridge / cereal / salad dressing / anything which will moisten it up a bit (has no real taste).
Here's an article from Reuters about inulin. Nothing about weight loss, more about benefits to gut health vs. potential side effects such as wind or even diarrhoea. Seems to be it's all in the dose and individual response to it. I do remember that as a teenager, there was instant coffee that contained chicory root which we drank as well as the baked goods mentioned in the article.
Was that Camp Coffee? I used to love that stuff in cold milk as in an iced coffee.
I think I might still have a bottle in the back of my ingredients cupboard! I guess I will know how old it is by how PC or un-PC the label is, as described in the wiki article below.
For us, it was something we bought in Mexico, couldn't get it in California (in the 60s), but I know there's a brand from New Orleans, Louisiana that also contains chicory. The name escapes me.
I eat a lot of high fibre prebiotic foods for good gut health, including those that contain inulin. I don't need to buy a supplement that I already eat in abundance, & try to get as many nutrients from good quality wholefood sources. I also drink organic kefir every day for probiotics. I found this did help control my weight & greatly improved my digestion prior to taking thyroid hormones.
Here's an article expaining why inulin may or may not help some people feel healthier:
Inulin 101 - A prebiotic fiber with powerful health benefits
If you've been reading up on gut health, then you may have heard of inulin.
Inulin is a fiber that has been linked to several health benefits, and is added to many foods. It can be purchased as a supplement in many health food stores and online.
However, some people have concerns about its side effects and how well it works.
This article takes a detailed look at inulin and its health effects.
What is inulin?
While inulin is found in many plants, it also comes in supplement form, generally as a powder. This is what it looks like.
Inulin is a type of soluble fiber found in many plants.
It is a "fructan" - meaning that it is made up of chains of fructose molecules that are linked together in a way that cannot be digested by your small intestine.
Instead, it travels to the lower gut, where it functions as a prebiotic, or food source for the beneficial bacteria that live there.
Your gut bacteria convert inulin and other prebiotics into short-chain fatty acids, which nourish colon cells and provide various other health benefits (1).
Inulin is relatively low in calories, providing 1.5 calories per gram (2).
Plants containing inulin have been around for a very long time, and some early humans consumed much more inulin than we do today (3).
Bottom line: Inulin is a soluble fiber found in many plants. Your gut bacteria convert it into short-chain fatty acids, which provide several health benefits.
Where does inulin come from?
Inulin is naturally found in many plants, but can also be modified for commercial use...
This article has a list of good prebiotics, most of which are available all year round:
This is a link to an article Angela wrote about some of the things she found out by presenting/taking part in the 'How to stay young' programme: she mentions a Professor Bell who is presumably experienced in this arena; who recommends inulin as a 'natural antidote for visceral fat'.
Some of the folks on Amazon definitely lost weight without doing anything else but others, as I said, had their stomachs swell.
The catchy acronym stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, which are more commonly known as carbohydrates. These can be further divided into five groups called fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides, lactose, excess fructose and polyols. The diet originated in Australia and has been adapted for the UK by researchers at Kings College, London. In essence, FODMAPs are different carbohydrates found in a wide range of foods including onions, garlic, mushrooms, apples, lentils, rye and milk. These sugars are poorly absorbed and pass through the small intestine and enter the colon, where they are fermented by bacteria. Gas is then produced, which stretches the sensitive bowel causing bloating, wind and pain. This can also cause water to move into and out of the colon, causing diarrhoea, constipation or a combination of both. People with IBS are more susceptible to the problems that are associated with this.
Yes I take it religiously - (warning it does make you fart in the beginning!) It can help aid sleep as well as improve bowel function. I have a teaspoon in my coffee every day - it is colourless and tasteless when dissolved in liquid - you cannot even taste it in water. I do take some non-dairy acidophillus capsules as well - think of the inulin (pre-biotic) as the fertilizer for your gut and then you add a good quality pro-biotics.
Yes I also read that many people find their sleep improves if they take this fibre. I'll bear in mind the flatulence alert if I decide to start taking it!
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