Yacon syrup might be less known to many, but this sweet-tasting syrup has been proven to help in your weight loss journey. It almost seems too good to be true, but fortunately, it is. Compared to most weight loss supplements, yacon syrup takes pride in its many human-based studies that actually back this claim up. This blog takes an objective look at this sugar substitute and the results in the studies behind it.
What is Yacon Syrup?
Yacon syrup is extracted from the yacon plant roots. The plant grows natively in the mountains of the Andes in South America. It has been used and eaten for many medicinal purposes for over a century in South America. People living in that region believe it to have second-to-none medicinal properties, resulting in a reduction of diabetes and aiding one’s digestive and kidney disorders. The fluid from the roots is extracted, filtered, and then evaporated in a chemical-free manufacturing process which resembles the process in which maple syrup is made.
Fructans – Fructooligosaccharides – Are an Active Ingredient in Yacon Syrup
Yacon syrup is one of the most recommended dietary sources of FOS (fructooligosaccharides), a kind of fructan. Fructans happen to be a category of dietary fiber which is soluble. The exact quantity might differ between different batches, however, yacon contains approximately 40-50% of fructans.
Yacon syrup also has certain digestive sugars and these include glucose and sucrose other than fructose. These sugars are responsible for the sweetness of the final product. The rest is a fiber called inulin and of course, fructooligosaccharides.
For a large part of this syrup is not digested, it typically has just a third of the caloric value of sugar, i.e. about 133 kcal per 0.220462 lb, and because of this very reason, it is considered as a low-calorie alternative to sugar. The fructans, in the end, get to the large intestine, where they feed the good bacteria in our digestive system. This is exactly where yacon syrup does its wonders. The good bacteria in our guts are incredibly critical for our health. Having good bacteria means associating with a lower risk of diabetes, improved immunity, and brain function to name a few. When these fructans are being digested by the good bacteria, they produce a short-chain acid that has robust anti-obesity effects.
Does yacon syrup really help with losing weight?
You can use yacon syrup for many of its various nutritional qualities. This is no ‘magic pill’ but consuming a healthy and balanced diet, and doing regular exercise is still key to losing weight, getting in shape, and improving your overall health. Also, it is to be noted that intake of yacon syrup must be restricted to 0.5 oz. before meals.
- Yacon syrup helps decrease BMI from 34 to 28 (meaning, from obese to overweight)
- It also increases stool frequency from 0.28 every day to 0.99, meaning an effective cure for constipation.
- Fasting insulin levels go down by 42%
- Insulin resistance, which is a big risk factor for heart disease and diabetes, was minimized by 67%.
In a nutshell, yacon syrup does have a dramatic improvement in our metabolic health and body weight.