More Powerful Than We Thought!

A recent study led by Frank Duca, an associate professor at the University of Arizona, sheds light on an intriguing possibility. The research hints that foods rich in beta-glucan—like oats and barley—could help reduce body weight and combat obesity. Fascinated yet? Let’s dive in.

The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, dives into the impact of various fibers on the gut microbiota. This community of microbes in our digestive system helps break down the food we gobble up.

Oats, Barley, Mushroom, Yeast: May Have Similar Effects to Anti-obesity Drugs

The researchers experimented with five plant fibers: pectin, beta-glucan, wheat dextrin, starch, and cellulose. Beta-glucan stole the show by reducing body weight and fat while improving glucose homeostasis. You can find this wonder fiber in oats, barley, mushrooms, and yeast.

Metabolites—molecules produced when gut bacteria interact with fiber—could be the secret sauce for weight loss. Particularly interesting is butyrate, a metabolite that serves as a key fuel source for colon cells. It promotes a healthy intestinal barrier and reduces systemic inflammation. Butyrate also triggers the release of gut peptides like GLP-1.

GLP-1 is quite the superstar. It regulates gut function and stimulates insulin, making people feel fuller. While drugs such as semaglutide aim to mimic GLP-1, they do so synthetically and are designed to last longer and target the brain.

Other Benefits Besides Weight Loss

Duca points out other perks of consuming dietary fiber. “Part of the benefit is the release of GLP-1 and other gut peptides that regulate appetite and body weight,” he explains. However, Duca believes butyrate might be doing more than just that. It could be strengthening the intestinal barrier and benefiting peripheral organs like the liver.

Duca isn’t stopping here. He’s studying other types of fiber that might also help with weight loss. In a previous study, barley flour outperformed several other commercially available flours in promoting weight loss.

**Cette céréale aurait un pouvoir amaigrissant, comparable à des médicaments contre l’obésité**

This article first appeared on topsante – Author: Emmanuelle Jung