fiber

If you’re living in the North America area you bound to have heard about Yacon Syrup, I myself remember how it came in the scene in a big way on Dr. Oz show and since then it has become very popular.

Take a look…

Dr. Oz has really endorsed this supplement as you can see but I thought I’ll do my own research on it and get my own angle since I’m a guy who likes to get to the bottom of things and see the data with my own eyes, so here it comes.

So What is The Yacon Syrup?

Basically Yacon Syrup is a syrup extracted from a plant called Yacon. Yacon is a plant that grows in the Andes of South America and the syrup itself is actually extracted from its roots.

The scientific name of this plant is Smallanthus sonchifolius and as opposed to other supplements this one actually has some research to back it up.

Researchers in the weight loss industry are very optimistic about the new and trendy Yacon Syrup. On Dr. Oz show it was described as if it was a magic bullet for weight loss , but is it really?

What Does It Do?

First off, the Yacon has a very similar route to discovery like other supplements. It started as a medicine for the native people who lived in the Andes mountains where the plant grows, and has been used there for thousands of years.

The local natives believed it to have therapeutic attributes that can lead to better health and cure liver/kidney disorders as well as diabetes.

As you can see the Yacon root has a very similar look to a sweet potato.

How Does It Work?

The plant itself contains a large amount of an active ingredient called fructooligosaccharides (FOS). This is basically a form of sugar that our body can’t break down or digest and because the plant contains about 40-50% of this sugar it has a very low glycemic index.

The beautiful thing about it is that this form of sugar is still felt by our taste buds when we consume it, that makes it an easy choice for a natural sweetener.

The rest of the materials in the plant are simple sugars like fructose, glucose and sucrose as well as a fiber called inulin.

Since the majority of the sugars from the the plant can’t be broken, the syrup has a very low caloric value, only about 130 calories for 100 grams, as opposed to regular sugar (400 calories).

Because of this it can be an excellent substitute for sugar.

It doesn’t end here though, the fructooligosaccharides eventually reach the large intestine and this is where the real magic happens. These indigestible sugars apparently feed the good bacteria in our gut.

That’s Interesting, But Does It Really Help You Lose Weight?

I know, I know… as usual, you don’t care too much about the science behind it, you just wanna know if it’s gonna help you shed a few pounds.

Well there is still more research to be done but so far what studies have shown is that it actually does help in losing weight. This powerful nutrition supplement is not only a great help in weight loss but has also many other benefits for our health. It is proved that the Yacon Syrup reduces the risk of heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

It was found that Yacon Syrup extract can boost the body’s metabolism in many ways. The active ingredients of this natural weight loss supplement (those fructooligosaccharides from before) activate the liver to convert the fatty acids into energy and burn the stored fat.

The syrup also affects the body’s sensitivity to insulin and prevents the liver from converting carbs into fat. The food intake is also decreased due to the appetite suppressor effects of the Syrup. The beneficial bacteria found in our gut uses the fiber from the Yacon plant and thus improves the immune system and help digestion.

People who can benefit from using Yacon Syrup are:

• People who do not consume enough fiber in their diet.
• People who suffer from constipation.
• People who are overweight or obese.
• People who have high blood sugar levels.

More Benefits

Yacon Syrup helps increasing the absorption of nutrients by supporting the prolifiration of good bacteria in our guts, thus improving the function of the immune system and reducing the risk of digestive allergies or risk of infections.

The supplement can improve bone density and help decrease the risk of osteoporosis, it helps regulate the blood sugar levels by increasing the insulin sensitivity and lowers the blood pressure through reducing cholesterol levels.

No side effects were reported when using yacon syrup however, because the Yacon plant is related to the sunflower plant, it is recommended that people allergic to sunflower seeds would avoid using this supplement.

What Convinced Me Most

I also saw the effect of this supplement first hand when my sister in law started to use it against weight gain and bad cholesterol.

She was struggling with her weight after quitting the gym and generally speaking she always had a problem when it came to exercise discipline.

She saw the Dr. Oz show too and asked me if it’s advisable for her to take it. Although I would prefer she would do physical activity instead, like group training, due to her past I didn’t believe she’d be persistent enough, plus she needed a quick solution so eventually I advised her to try it.

So she started using yacon and it really helped bring her down to normal levels. She lost 15 pounds in a little under 3 months and it was enough to get her out of the danger zone…mission accomplished!

I asked her what was her experience with the supplement and she described that the rate of losing weight with Yacon is similar to what can be achieved with a restrictive diet.

However, while using Yacon she didn’t feel hungry and did not experience any food cravings. She also added that she did not count her daily calories intake or exercise hard in order to lose the weight.

So there you have it, after gathering all the pieces of the puzzle I see that this is actually a great product for weight loss and I would certainly recommend it for anyone who is struggling with weight management.