Vegetarian World
prebiotics:
The term Prebiotic is used for certain components of plant foods, which are not digestible in any of the stages of the digestive process (they are resistant to the action of enzymes).
They are water-soluble (water-soluble) carbohydrates or fiber found in certain foods, such as citrus and apples.
Not caloric or energetic, their consumption is beneficial because they selectively stimulate the growth and activity of one or more bacterial species in the colon.
Examples:
- fructooligosaccharidesare present in foods such as onions, garlic, tomatoes, bananas, whole grains such as barley, oats and wheat, as well as honey and beer.
- Pectin, which is present in the rind of citrus, passion fruit and apple.
- Ligninas are found in the skins of oleaginous fruits (linseed, sesame, almonds...) and legumes such as soybeans and adzuki beans.
-THEinulinIt is found mainly in chicory root, garlic, onion, asparagus and artichoke.Inulin extracted from chicory is commercially produced and can be consumed by diabetics as a sugar substitute because it contains only 1 to 2 kcal/g.
Prebiotics (dietary fibers) have the following functions:
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They help in the maintenance of the intestinal flora;
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Stimulate intestinal motility (intestinal transit);
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They prevent diarrhea and constipation by altering the colonic microflora, providing a healthy microflora;
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They collaborate so that only the necessary substances are absorbed by the intestine, thus eliminating excess glucose (sugar) and cholesterol, thus favoring the reduction of cholesterol and total triglycerides in the blood;
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They have a bifidogenic effect, that is, they stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria, responsible for inhibiting the activity of other bacteria that are putrefactive and intoxicating.
Source: "Sweet Lemon" by Conceição Trucom
