Yacon Syrup and Prebiotics: How Do They Promote Overall Health?

Yacon syrup is extracted from the root of yacon, a tuberous plant found in the Andean mountains in South America. That it was featured in the television show of a popular doctor as a weight loss aid is a double-edged sword. It may have spurred its popularity among consumers, but it may have also made it easy for consumers to dismiss it as mere fad. While a lot people are either hopeful or doubtful of its being an effective weight loss aid, it has other benefits. One of them is that it may promote digestive health and overall wellness as it an excellent source of prebiotics: FOS and inulin.

Prebiotics serve as food for probiotics, which are commonly known as the healthy bacteria. One of the prebiotics that yacon syrup contains is FOS (fructooligosaccharides), which is responsible for around half of the syrup's sweetness. Because of its molecular structure, it goes all the way to the digestive tract without being metabolized, where the healthy bacteria feed on it. These healthy bacteria then boost the supply of short-chain fatty acids, which help prevent cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Another prebiotic that the syrup contains is inulin, which is a long-chain fiber. Long chains feed the healthy bacteria in the left part of the colon, and they contribute to the maintenance of the digestive system.

Because the syrup contains prebiotics, making it a part of your diet can help your body get rid of bad bacteria and toxins. Bad bacteria and toxins cause various health problems, including irritable bowels and colon cancer. You may add the syrup to your coffee or dishes that require some sweetener. And, by incorporating it into your diet, you are not only improving your digestive health, but you are reducing the amount of sugar in your diet as well. This is because it is very low on the glycemic index scale.

To sum up, yacon syrup promotes overall health by providing the body with prebiotics. In addition, it may be used as the healthier alternative to sugars and artificial sweeteners as it does not cause one's blood sugar levels to rise significantly.

Take charge of your health. Get only the highest quality health supplements you need from Choice Nutrition Supplements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8475700

Coenzyme Q10: The Essential Vitamin-Like Substance

The body needs different substances that play different roles in making sure that it stays healthy and is able to carry out its functions. If you ask people about the substances that they know are important for the body, majority of them would be more likely to say vitamins. After all, the health and fitness community is filled with a wide range of vitamin dietary supplements. There is one vitamin-like substance that a lot of people may not know about, however. This substance is called Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10.

What really sets the substance apart from vitamins is that it is naturally present in the body. It can be found in every cell of your body, but it is found in higher concentrations where you need the most energy, which are your heart, kidneys, and liver. So what it does it have to do with the energy that these vital organs need to be able to properly carry out their functions? Well, without it, the mitochondria of cells, which are the powerhouses of cells, are not able to produce that energy.

So what is the big deal? It is naturally synthesized in the body anyway. Well, the thing is the levels of Coenzyme Q10 in your body tend to decrease as you grow older. On the average, people experience a decline in the levels of the substance after twenty. If you are taking statins, you may also be at risk of developing deficiency of it, and this poses a threat to your health. This deficiency is associated with overall weakness and heart-related diseases, such as heart failure, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy.

As such, making sure that you have enough of it in your body cannot be overstated. You can do this by including in your diet some kinds of food that are known to be good sources of the substance. These include meat and meat products, peanuts, and sardines. Just like most vitamins, a Coenzyme Q10 dietary supplement is available. Adding it to your diet can boost your overall health, especially that the substance is also known as an antioxidant.

Take charge of your health. Get only the highest quality health supplements you need from Choice Nutrition Supplements.