Surprised with 2 types of starch containing substances 'like weight loss drugs'

American and Austrian scientists have found something that can help control blood sugar, lose weight, and reduce fat extremely well in two familiar starch sources.

A research team from the University of Arizona (UA - USA) and the University of Vienna (Austria) tested many different types of fiber and identified something that can help you improve your figure and blood sugar: Beta-glucan , found in two familiar starch sources: oats and barley .

Among popular starch sources, oats and barley contain a lot of beta-glucan which helps to lose weight effectively - (Illustration by AI: ANH THU).

In a test on mice fed a high-fat diet for 18 weeks, several different forms of fiber were examined including beta-glucan, wheat dextrin, pectin, resistant starch, and cellulose.

Results showed that all of them provided health benefits including significantly changing the gut microbiota in a positive direction.

However, only beta-glucan plays an effective role in supporting weight loss and this effect can be clearly seen before the 10-week mark.

It also reduced body fat in laboratory mice, as well as aided in balancing blood sugar levels.

Looking more closely, they found that beta-glucan increased the number of Ileibacterium bacteria , which are found in the guts of mice as well as humans and other animals. Other studies have linked this bacteria to weight loss.

Additionally, levels of butyrate — a metabolite produced when bacteria break down fiber — also increased in the guts of the mice.

Butyrate promotes the release of glucagon- like peptide -1 (GLP-1), a naturally occurring protein that touted synthetic weight loss drugs like Ozempic mimic to stimulate insulin release.

'Part of the benefits of dietary fiber consumption are through the release of GLP-1 and other gut peptides that help regulate appetite and body weight,' explains co-author Frank Duca, a biomedical scientist at the UA.

Researchers will need clinical trials (in humans) to more specifically and clearly evaluate this finding.

Still, some previous observational studies have linked starchy food groups like barley and oats to weight loss.

So if you're struggling with cutting carbs to lose weight, changing the types of carbs you eat may be a good and safe suggestion .