A new year revolution
ANEW YEAR is here and we’ve all made resolutions. And so many of those resolutions involve living a healthier lifestyle, not least losing weight (as a result of all those Christmas treats). We can all start but sticking to a simpler, more natural diet – salads and vegetables rather than processed foods – is far healthier.
And yet so often the change seems to be a challenge rather than a pleasure. One way you can make a change, however, is with inulin.
Even now few people have heard of it despite the enthusiasm of the scientific community.
It’s not a fruit nor a vegetable itself, rather a naturally sourced fibre that is found in certain vegetables and fruits: onions, bananas, wheat, asparagus, sweet potatoes and chicory root.
The extract is a simple powder that is good for our health. It cannot be digested and, being a soluble fibre, it slows down digestion and curtails the release of glucose.
This prevents rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, possibly preventing diabetes from developing.
By slowing digestion, inulin enables the body to better absorb nutrients from food and encourages regular, healthy bowel movements.
It promotes good bacteria in the stomach, keeping you and your digestive system healthy.
Inulin has also been shown to reduce the absorption of fat by up to 50 per cent. This is thought to be due to the effect of which both inulin and fibre have on the gut bacteria, helping to develop healthy gut flora, which in turn helps encourage better digestion and elimination of fats.
The result can help in the fight against visceral fat which surrounds the internal organs and is proven to be detrimental to health, restricting the organs’ efficiency and causing high blood pressure, an increase in blood glucose levels and weight gain.
So inulin is perfect for those New Year’s resolutions.
It is also a sweet carbohydrate – and is a healthy alternative to sugar.
It dissolves easily in liquids and so can be incorporated into an everyday diet with no fuss – perfect to add to juice, smoothies, cereal, anything that you’re baking or simply a nice cup of tea.
THE HUMAN digestive tract does not produce the enzymes needed to break inulin down, so it contributes little to our calorie intake – with fewer than half the calories of sugar. Although it is natural, it’s not possible to find enough inulin in an everyday diet.
The simple and efficient way to try it is Bioglan Inulin, a dietary supplement that contains 100 per cent pure, naturally sourced inulin from chicory root and which is available at Holland & Barrett stores nationwide. If you stick to one resolution in a push to stay healthier, regular inulin should be top of the list.