In our preceeding blogs, we have extensively
discussed the values of Beta-glucan and some of its unbeatable health benefits.
Just to summarize in few words for those reading about Beta-glucan for the
first or the hundredth time before going on to our topic for this blog.
Beta-glucan is a soluble dietary fiber that is
highly concentrated in oats with many desirable physical and physiological
features. Beta-glucan has incredible ability to reduce the risk of colorectal
cancer, heart disease, relieve constipation, help in the production of short
chain fatty acids, and lower blood sugar level in the body.
However the most popularly known benefit of
beta-glucan is its ability to manage and reduce high cholesterol level in the
body. This significant physiological benefit, allowed the approval of a health
claim by the FDA in 1997 for beta-glucan to be consumed in sufficient amounts.
Beta-glucan which is one of the major components
of the starchy endosperm and aleurone cell walls of cereal grains, such as
oats, rye, barley and wheat. Getting its sufficient consumption amount in
processed grains is almost impossible.
This has made Cardio Naturals, a richly packaged
Beta-glucan supplement very beneficial and makes daily sufficient intake
possible in the most exciting ways as it has been highlighted in previous
blogs.
A vital aspect of the beta glucan is the
probiotics effect that they possess. Before I talk about the effect its
prebiotics feature has on our bodies, let me define what this feature is.
Probiotics which are also known as bifidobacteria are gram-positive
anaerobic bacteria that develop at temperatures between 37-41°C and at a pH of
about 6.5-7.0.
Probiotics are defined as a preparation or a
product that has viable, defined microorganisms in sufficient numbers, enough
to alter the microflora (by colonization or implantation) in a compartment of
the host thereby exerting beneficial health effects in this host.
In simpler terms, probiotics are beneficial bacteria that feed on
prebiotics to grow and provide us with beneficial health benefits. Prebiotics
are found in foods with live bacterial
cultures such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir and fiber rich foods that
have beta-glucan and inulin that the probiotic can feed upon.
Probiotics metabolize these fibers into products
that help to maintain our gastrointestinal health. This has made Cardio
Naturals which richly contains beta-glucan a vital prebiotic for the probiotics
bacteria to flourish and provide the following health benefits outlined below.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE PROBIOTIC BACTERIA IN BETA-GLUCAN
Besides the obvious effects of lowering
cholesterol levels in the body and the risk of heart disease, it also has these
three benefits among others.
Prevention and Alleviation of Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea
The probiotic actions of bifidobacteria found in
Beta-glucan continue to be investigated as a remedy for antibiotic associated
diarrhea. In the use of antibiotic treatment, the ecology of the gut is
disrupted, thereby resulting into acute diarrhea. It is estimated that over 39%
of patients who receive antibiotics will suffer from antibiotic-associated
diarrhea.
This side effect occurs as a result of the death
of beneficial bacteria, which are reduced in number by the antibiotic
treatment, leaving opportunity for the toxic growth that causes antibiotic
associated diarrhea.
This has made replenishing of these beneficial
bacteria necessary by taking Cardio Naturals, beta-glucan supplement that has
the sufficient daily intake to take care of this antibiotic associated
diarrhea.
Prevents and/or Relieves Constipation
There is evidence that bifidobacteria increases
gut transit time to relieve and/or prevent constipation as shown in a number of
human studies.
Mineral Absorption and bone density
The consumption of beta-glucan rich supplements
like Cardio Naturals along with bifidobacteria has been recently linked to
improved intestinal mineral absorption and increased bone density which in turn
increases bone breaking strength.
There are many factors possibly contributing to
increased bone density, including increased mineral solubility which comes as a
result of increased bacterial production of short-chain fatty acids in the
body.
