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:
No comments:
Post a Comment