What is Inulin?
Inulin basically a type of soluble fibre which is commonly found in a number of vegetables. It actually belongs to a class of carbohydrates called as fructans. Means, they are made up of fructose molecules which are precisely connected together to prevent digestion in the small intestine.
Inulin is usually used by mouth for higher blood fats, comprising triglycerides and cholesterol. It is also used for constipation, weight loss, diabetes, and diarrhea.
How does it Works?
Inulin is not absorbed or digested in the stomach. It goes to the guts where bacteria’s can use it to grow. Inulin supports the growth of a special form of bacteria which are linked with growing bowel function and overall health. It also reduces the body’s ability to make certain kind of fats.
Inulin Possibly Effective for:
- Weight Loss: Inulin helps to reduce body weight in people who are obese or overweight.
- Diabetes: Inulin may help lower blood sugar levels when it absorbed along with diabetes medicines.
- High level of triglycerides: Taking inulin may reduce triglycerides in some people with high level of triglyceride. However, the average reduction level is around 7.5%.
- Constipation: It seem to aid relive constipation in some adults, children, and elderly people.
Global Inulin Market
Globally, nutraceutical product is growing importance and is becoming the major part of the customers’ daily dietary practice. Changing consumer lifestyle and rise in health awareness are the main reasons behind growing popularity of inulin. Increasing intake of high-fiber food and prebiotics by the food as well as beverage industry is linked to several benefits such as lower stress response, improved digestion, decrease in cardiovascular disease, and better hormonal balance. Such benefits increases awareness among the consumers that drives the inulin market growth. Growing importance of nutraceuticals contributes to the increasing health awareness, customer shifting towards natural ingredients are expected to boost the inulin demand as a functional ingredient.
Where does inulin come from?
Natural Sources:
There are huge number of plants include only small amounts of inulin. Here is how much inulin found in following foods:
- Chicory root: 36 to 48 grams
- Asparagus: 2 to 3 grams
- Jerusalem artichoke: 16 to 20 grams
- Garlic: 9 to 16 grams
- Onions: 1 to 8 grams
- Jicama: 10 to 13 grams
- Yacon root: 7 to 8 grams
Manufactured Sources:
Inulin is also comes in the form of supplement or as an ingredient in cereal bars, yogurt, protein bars, and many other products.
- HP (High-Performance): This type of inulin is made by removing the smaller molecules from it.
- Oligofructose: It is created by removing the higher molecules from inulin.
- Native Chicory: Removed from chicory root.
- FOS (Fructooligosaccharides): It consists of small inulin molecules created from table sugar.
Side Effects
The different types of inulin have been examined broadly, and appear to be safe for the people when consumed in small doses. Though, people who are allergic to FODMAPs may experience significant side effects.
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