A new natural sweetener could be obtained from the tequila plant

Could a key ingredient in tequila help weight loss and fight diabetes? Scientists discover the agave plant could be turned into a sweetener.

According to Mailonline, natural sugars in the agave plant used to make tequila are linked to weight loss. These elements called agavins, act as a dietary complement and won’t raise blood sugar. It can help people feel satisfied and therefore cause them to eat less.

A sweetener created from agavins may help the obese and diabetics, but the dangers of drinking lots of alcohol with diabetes remain the same, experts warn.

A key ingredient in tequila could aid weight loss and control blood sugars for diabetics, research suggests. A study has found a link between weight loss and an ingredient in the agave plant which is used to make the Mexican drink.

The plant’s naturally occurring sugars, called agavins, can also help lower blood sugar too, say researchers.

This could mean a new sweetener could be created that could benefit obese people and the 3.5 million Britons and 28 million Americans who suffer from type 2 diabetes.

Agavins are non-digestible, which means they act as a dietary fiber and won’t raise your blood sugar.

Furthermore, agavins can help people feel fuller and therefore cause them to eat less, according to research presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Dallas.

“We believe that agavins have a great potential as light sweeteners since they are sugars, highly soluble, have a low glycemic index, and a neutral taste, but most important, they are not metabolized by humans,” said Dr Mercedes G. López, who carried out the research.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

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