A sweet-tasting syrup that can help you lose weight?
Seems almost too good to be true…
But this is exactly what they’re saying about Yacon syrup, which recently became popular as a weight loss aid.
In contrast to most weight loss supplements, it does have some actual human research to back up the claims.
This article takes an objective look at Yacon syrup and the studies behind it.
What is Yacon Syrup?
Yacon syrup is extracted from the roots of the Yacon plant.
The Yacon plant, also called Smallanthus sonchifolius, grows natively in the Andes mountains in South America.
This plant has been eaten and used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years in South America.
People there believed it to have powerful medicinal properties, leading to improvements in diabetes and helping with kidney and digestive disorders (1).
This is what the Yacon root looks like… kind of similar to a sweet potato:
The juices from the roots are extracted, then filtered and evaporated in a chemical-free manufacturing process that resembles the way Maple syrup is made. A very natural process (2).
The final product is a sweet-tasting syrup, with a dark color and a consistency similar to molasses.
You can find Yacon Molasses Syrup here: http://tiny.cc/YaconRoot
Yacon syrup recently became popular after it was featured by Dr. Mehmet Oz, a famous TV doctor in America. He called it a “metabolism game changer” and seemed very excited about it. You can watch the episode for free here.
Keep in mind that Dr. Oz has a history of recommending things that don’t work , so his endorsement should be taken with a grain of salt.
Bottom Line: Yacon syrup is extracted from the roots of the Yacon plant. It is a sweet-tasting syrup with a look and consistency similar to molasses.
The Active Ingredient in Yacon Syrup – Fructooligosaccharides
Yacon syrup is one of the best dietary sources offructooligosaccharides (FOS).
The exact amount may vary between batches, but Yacon syrup contains roughly 40-50% fructooligosaccharides.
Fructooligosaccharides are sugar molecules that are connected in a way that makes them unrecognizable by the digestive system.
Even though these sugars can stimulate the taste buds, humans can not digest them.
Yacon syrup does contain a small amount of digestible sugars though… fructose, glucose and sucrose. The rest is fructooligosaccharides and a fiber called inulin (3).
Because a large part of Yacon syrup isn’t digested, it has only a third of the caloricvalue of sugar, about 133 calories per 100 grams, or 20 calories per tablespoon.
For this reason, it can be used as a low-calorie alternative to sugar.
The fructooligosaccharides eventually reach the large intestine, where they feed the friendly bacteria in the digestive system. This is where Yacon syrup works its magic… in the gut.
The friendly bacteria in the gut are actually incredibly important for the health of our bodies. Having the “right” types is associated with a lower risk of diabetes, better immunity and improved brain function… to name a few (4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
When the bacteria digest the fructooligosaccharides, they also produce short-chain fatty acids that have powerful anti-obesity effects, at least in rats (9, 10).
There is also some evidence that fructooligosaccharides can lower the hunger hormone ghrelin, helping to reduce appetite (11, 12, 13).
Keep in mind that Yacon is not the only food that contains fructooligosaccharides. They are also found in smaller amounts in artichokes, onions, garlic, leeks and various other plant foods.
Bottom Line: The active ingredients in Yacon are Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which feed the friendly bacteria in the intestine and lead to various beneficial effects on metabolism.
You can find Yacon Molasses Syrup here: http://tiny.cc/YaconRoot