What Is Inulin Powder

What is Inulin Powder?

Anyone who has recently been reading up on gut health has come across inulin. What is inulin powder though and what exactly does it do? Is inulin a hormone? Well, no. Inulin is a soluble fibre which naturally occurs in a variety of common herbs, fruits, and vegetables such as sweet potatoes,

Fibre isn’t the most glamourous nutrient, but it’s vitally important to the function of your gut and your overall wellness. And the reality is most of us don’t eat anywhere near enough. This post introduces inulin powder as an alternative way to pad out your ingestion of roughage.

What is inulin good for?

1.Inulin is a natural, plant-derived source of non-digestible carbohydrate and dietary fibre， But what you’re probably wondering is, how could inulin powder help you?

2.It’s good for bowel health

Inulin is said to have a positive effect on bowel function by influencing intestinal biota.

3.Researchers who looked at data from a range of clinical trials found that inulin can have a positive effect on stool frequency and consistency.3,4 In one study of people with low stool frequency, 10g per day of native chicory inulin increased stool frequency.

4.It could help calcium absorption

Inulin can also help calcium absorption and bone mineral mass, according to a study on adolescents who regularly consumed inulin-type fructans.

5.It helps support weight loss

For anyone looking for help with a weight management program, inulin can support weight loss and prevent weight gain.

6.Inulin weight loss occurs due to decreasing feelings of hunger, which can help with regulating appetite and food intake. In one study, people consuming higher levels of inulin report decreased appetite for sweet, salty and fatty food.In addition, as a soluble fibre, it also helps you feel fuller for longer. This is great news if you’re looking for help cutting down unhealthy snack urges.

7.It helps regulate blood sugar

Inulin slows digestion, allowing sugar to be released more slowly. This helps keep blood sugar levels in healthy check.

8.As a result, Inulin may play a positive role in helping control Type 2 diabetes，

Summary

Inulin is good for…

1.Supporting bowel health

2.Supporting weight management

3.Helping control blood sugar

4.As a low-fat, low calorie food replacement in cooking and food manufacture

What is the best source of inulin?

Inulin can be found in 36,000 types of plants.Arguably the best source of inulin is chicory roots but onion, garlic, and some whole grains are also good sources.

This table shows the relative levels of different inulin foods

Is inulin good or bad for you?

Firstly, the good news – inulin is naturally low in calories, is high in fibre and is vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Inulin offers a host of health benefits, from helping improve support digestive health, alleviating constipation and helping weight management.

But is there such a thing as inulin intolerance?

Most people will be able to take inulin in small doses without any adverse reaction. However, people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and those intolerant to FODMAPs should be wary of side effects. Inulin intake should be increased progressively, to help monitor and manage any potential side effect.

Side effects of inulin

1.Bloating and / or increased wind (flatulence)

2.Abdominal discomfort and / or cramping

3.Diarrhoea

1.Inulin increases bowel movement frequency and can help soften stools.

2.Inulin is a type of fructo-oligosaccharide, which is a prebiotic.

3.An inulin prebiotic can help regulate a healthy gut environment in two ways:

3.1By stimulating the growth of friendly gut bacteria. These are bacteria that are beneficial to gut health, such as Lactobacillus sp., Bifidobacteria sp. and Lactococcus sp.

3.2It also works by inhibiting the growth of potentially harmful bacteria. For example, Clostridia and Escherichia coli.

Summary

1.Inulin is a prebiotic that offers vital support to gut health

2.An inulin prebiotic is good for maintaining a healthy balance of good and bad gut bacteria

3.Prebiotics can also help with calcium absorption and better immune function