How to Increase Your Gut Fermentation and Be Less Hungry
Fiber.
What a boring topic.
I mean, really – we can’t even digest it. So why read about it?
Perhaps – just perhaps – because it might be the key to your hunger, energy, and fat loss?
Fermentable Fiber and Its Role In Your Gut
Regardless of all the myth and misinformation out there about fiber, the science behind fiber has repeatedly shown that whole-food sources of fiber are consistently associated with reduced risks of obesity, diabetes, and several other chronic diseases.
However, the reasons behind the protective effects of fiber have not always been clear. After all, fiber (by definition) is something that our bodies can’t digest.
The article below from Science Daily, though, discusses a fascinating new study that potentially sheds quite a bit of light on the way in which fiber might be most beneficial for humans.
How Fiber Prevents Diabetes, Obesity
In particular, researchers recently found that fermentable fiber (fiber that can be digested by the bacteria in our intestines) might play a role in the ability of our intestines to produce glucose.
This ability of our intestines to produce glucose is incredibly important because certain transmitters detect the glucose, which leads to a variety of protective responses in our bodies: decreased hunger, increased energy expenditure, decreased glucose production by our liver, and more.
Many of these effects were confirmed by researchers in tests on rats, which although not conclusive, are likely to be applicable to humans in this case.
I’m Going To Eat More Veggies
I don’t know about you, but there are times when I don’t eat enough veggies.
For a month or 2, they’ll be 75% of what I eat, but then I might have a month where I eat a lot less. This past month was once such occurrence.
After reading this study, though, I’m definitely going to be eating more veggies and a few more fruits.
We can get fermentable fibers from a lot of places, including foods like grains and legumes that are not very nutrient dense. But why not get the benefits of fermentable fiber while also getting a bunch of extra nutrients?
Images: Copyright (c) Anton Maltsev from Fotolia and Jessmine from Fotolia