New diabetic-safe sweetener helps manage weight, blood glucose levels

Thursday, March 20, 2014 by: Carolanne Wright
Tags: safe sweeteners, tequila, agavins

(NaturalNews) A new natural sweetener has been discovered which may prove to be an effective deterrent against diabetes and obesity. Made from the same plant as tequila, the sugar substitute lowers blood sugar levels and provides a source of dietary fiber. Considering almost 26 million Americans struggle with type 2 diabetes, and countless others battle obesity, the sweetener could very well play a significant role in curbing disease.

Not your ordinary sweetener

Found in the agave plant, sweet-tasting agavins help encourage insulin production, which lowered blood glucose levels in animal tests. Additionally, researchers noted the sugar substitute assisted obese mice in losing weight. According to Forbes:

"Unlike sucrose, glucose, and fructose, agavins aren't absorbed by the body, so they can't elevate blood glucose, according to research by Mercedes G. Lopez, a researcher at the Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados, Biotechnology and Biochemistry Irapuato, in Guanajuato, Mexico."

The article continues, stating that agavins boost "the level of a peptide called GLP-1 (short for glucagon-like peptide-1), which triggers the body's production of insulin, agavins aid the body's natural blood sugar control. Also, because agavins are type of fiber, they can make people feel fuller and reduce appetite, Lopez's research shows."

For the study, Lopez and her team fed a group of mice a standard diet and added agavins to the animal's water supply. The mice were weighed daily, while glucose levels were checked weekly. A majority of the mice who drank the agavins consumed less food, lost weight and experienced a drop in blood glucose levels.

The crucial difference between agavins and other sugars

Not to be mistaken with fructose-rich agave nectar, agavins are fructans -- a type of long-chain fructose which the body cannot use and doesn't absorb. Lopez elaborates in "Tequila plant possible sweetener for diabetics, helps reduce blood sugar, weight":

"Agavins are fructans, which are fructoses linked together in long, branched chains. The human body can't use them in that configuration, so they don't affect blood sugar. Agavins also sometimes get confused with agave nectar or agave syrup, which appears on many health-food store shelves. These products contain fructans that have been broken down into individual fructoses, so they are much more similar to high-fructose corn syrup."

Furthermore, agavins act as a prebiotic, boosting levels of beneficial lactobacillus and bifidus bacteria. And the fiber content helps to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

The main disadvantage of the sugar substitute is that agavins aren't quite as sweet as other types of sugar. It can also cause digestive upset in sensitive individuals. So far, only animal tests have been conducted on the sweetener, but researchers are enthusiastic about the implications for humans.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.forbes.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140316152951.htm

http://www.nydailynews.com

About the author:
Carolanne believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, wellness coach and natural foods chef, she has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of green living for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people who share a similar vision.

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