GLP-1 is a hormone that’s stimulated by fiber to increase the production of insulin in the pancreas.
GLP-1, weight loss, glucose stability and gut fortification are words that are abuzz in the food and healthcare industry. A common denominator among all four is that fiber intake can help actualize them. Regarding GLP-1, a hormone activated by fiber to promote insulin production, Bay State Milling, an OU kosher-certified company, has made advancements in sourcing highly concentrated fiber from the wheat kernel to further elevate insulin production.
GLP-1
GLP-1 is the name of the hormone produced in the gut that acts on the pancreas to produce more insulin. Though insulin production to help spread sugar throughout the body is important to all, it’s especially important for type 2 diabetics. Fiber has the capacity to stimulate the GLP-1 hormone to help in this process.
One premier OU kosher-certified company, Bay State Milling, has reached advanced stages in procuring highly potent fiber from wheat kernels. It’s manifest in their product, HealthSense® High-Fiber Wheat Flour. Though this product is only available for commercial sale, it gives an indication of where the industry is moving.
The fiber used in HealthSense has ten times the potency of other fibers and has received the American Heart Association Heart-Check Certification. In a PR Newswire release, Peter Levangie, President and CEO of Bay State Milling, stated: “The American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark is the most-recognized symbol of heart-healthy products in the United States. Our manufacturing and food service customers will know that our revolutionary flour adds valuable nutrition to foods they produce.”
Recently, Bay State Milling hosted a forum on Food Business News along with a physician and nutritionist. Colleen Zammer, Vice President of Varietal Solutions Growth and Innovations at Bay State Milling, presented all the benefits of the HealthSense brand and revealed that a key factor in creating the fiber potency is based on the fact that the company is focused on using only the resistant starch portions of the wheat kernel. Resistant starch is less diluted in the body.
As the industry moves towards using more concentrated fiber, more GPL-1 hormones can be triggered to act on the pancreas to produce more insulin. This will in turn move the sugar more rapidly throughout the body.
Weight Loss
There is a current focus in society on weight loss to bolster long-term health. Many cardiovascular conditions can arise from being overweight since the body has to pump more blood which stresses the system. Fiber is unique in that it can give a feeling of fullness with just a small amount. Because it’s barely broken down in the small intestine but slowly fragmentizes in the large intestine, a feeling of fullness is transmitted throughout the body. With these properties, fiber stands as a protection against overstressing the circulatory system.
Glucose Stability
As mentioned, fiber is only slightly broken down by the small intestine, mostly staying intact until it reaches the large intestine. Because of this, there is no quick release of glucose in the small intestine which usually serves as the base from which glucose is collected to eventually send throughout the body. Maintaining stable levels of sugar is important for all and especially for those with type 2 diabetes. In this way, fiber is a powerful tool in maintaining healthy glucose levels.
Gut Fortification
The gut in the body has many responsibilities. It’s the core system that ensures smooth digestion and through the vagus nerve which connects the gut and brain, it ensures robust cognitive brain function. Therefore, strengthening it is of utmost importance.
The ability of fiber to pass through the small intestine rather intact enables it to ferment in the large intestine and feed the bacteria in the gut. As such, it serves as a powerful prebiotic to reinforce the gut microbiome.
Conclusion
Whether it be the production of GLP-1 hormones to produce more insulin, weight loss, glucose stability or a strong gut, fiber plays a crucial role. The industry is moving in the direction of producing even more potent fibers which opens up the possibilities for increased wellness.
