Cheerios and Cholesterol

We have all seen the TV ads claiming that Cheerios help to lower cholesterol. Have you ever wondered how this works?

Most people know that Cheeios are made from oats. Some people are aware that oats are a good source of soluble fibre. What most do not know, is how soluble fibre lowers blood cholesterol.

The liver eliminates cholesterol via bile, which is excreted into the small intestine. Bile serves a few purposes, it aids in breaking down fat and is a vehicle for eliminating toxins and cholesterol. Bile is also considered a lubricant to the digestive tract, helping move things along. In order to get cholesterol out of the body it must not be reabsorbed while makes its journey through the digestive tract. The common misconception is that the soluble fibre in oats fibre somehow binds to the cholesterol. However, this is not true.

Here is what happens: healthy bacteria in the large intestine ferment the soluble fibre from oats and other foods in to short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This creates a slightly acidic environment in the large intestine. This acidic environment is what prevents the cholesterol from being reabsorbed into the blood. In addition, the SCFAs produced provide the majority of energy for the cells of the large intestine and prevent the growth of unhealthy bacteria and fungi.

So, Cheerios do lower your cholesterol levels. However, you do need to have healthy bacteria present in the digestive system in order to have the cholesterol lowering effect. Also keep in mind, there are many source of soluble fibre, not just Cheerios.

See this link for sources of soluble fibre:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_fiber#Plant_sources_of_fiber

FOS and Onions

Did you know that onions have loads of FOS?

What is FOS and why would I want it?

Glad you asked...FOS stands for Fructo OligoSaccharides. This is a type of sugar that feeds only the healthy bacteria (aka microflora) in your intestines and is often referred to as prebiotic. Prebiotics stimulate the growth of the healthy microflora that populate your large intestine. Stimulating the growth of the healthy microflora helps the body keep unhealthy micro-organisms under control. Which leads to healthier digestion and a stronger immune system, to name a few benefits.

However the FOS in onions (or any other source), does not necessarily replace the need for supplemental probiotics. The term probiotic refers to supplemental healthy microflora. Please consult with your naturopath before starting or stopping probiotics.

Here is a list of some foods containing FOS/Prebiotics:

Fruits - apples and bananas

Vegetables - onions, garlic, asparagus, leeks and Jerusalem artichokes

Herbs - chicory root, burdock root and dandelion root

Breast milk (for babies)