What is Yacon Syrup
Yacon syrup is extracted from the roots of the yacon plant in much the same way as maple syrup is obtained from the maple tree. It is a dark syrup containing inulin, a mixture of sweet sugary substances known as fructooligosaccharides.
As discussed below, yacon syrup can help you lose weight in a number of ways. This weight loss product became known to the US because Dr. Mehmet Oz in his own TV Show called metabolism game changer.
Yacon Syrup Weight Loss Benefits
There is number of ways how to lose weight with yacon syrup. Unlike many other weight loss supplements, this has trial results of human subjects to back up its claims. These will be discussed later. Here are some of the ways in which it works.
Yacon Syrup Contains Indigestible Soluble Sweetener
The human digestive system cannot break down the mixture of fructooligosaccharides contained in yacon syrup.
They act as a form of soluble fiber known as inulin, and while inulin can be used as a sweetener it is not digested and broken down into glucose as normal sugars are.
Yes, the syrup also contains regular sugars such as fructose and sucrose, but around half its bulk is composed of inulin.
The actual amount depends on the extraction process, but the quantity of regular sugars present is relatively small in comparison to the complex saccharides.
When used a sweetener, therefore, it is a low calorie alternative to sugar: the syrup contains only a third of the calories of regular sugar.
It is a Prebiotic
Yacon syrup is a prebiotic, meaning that it nourishes the good bacteria in your gut. Because it is indigestible, inulin passes through to your lower gut unchanged.
There, it helps promote the growth of the beneficial bacteria that help strengthen the bowel wall, aid digestion and help to regulate the production of hormones (11, 12, 13) in your body.
This, in turn, helps you manage your weight easier without resorting to extreme diets.
In fact, the healthy bacteria carry out a number of functions in your body. In addition to the above, they improve your immunity to disease, improve your brain function and reduce the risk of you developing diabetes. Their importance to your overall health and well being cannot be overemphasized.
All of this is an added benefit of taking yacon syrup as part of a weight reduction program.
Yacon Syrup Helps Cure Constipation.
If your bowels are sluggish, your entire body can be affected including your weight management mechanisms. Inulin helps you become more regular, but there is a down side to this.
There is some side effects: taking excessive amounts can lead to flatulence, diarrhea, digestive discomfort, and nausea – if you already suffer from these, the condition can become worse.
The quantity taken should be controlled, which is why it is best used under supervision or part of a general weight reduction program.
Can You Lose Weight With Yacon Syrup?
Before we discuss whether or not yacon syrup helps weight loss, let’s first examine what this is and why it has become so popular among those trying to lose weight.
It tastes sweet, sure, and we don’t normally associate sweet things with weight loss, so why is it popular?
Yacon syrup is obtained from the tubers of the Andean yacon plant, used by many people in the eastern areas of South America as a low-calorie food and sweetener.
The sweetness comes from inulin, a mix of fructooligosaccharides, which comprise 50% of the syrup yacon tubers.
The liquid is extracted from the tubers and then evaporated to a syrup in much the same way as maple syrup is produced. The consistency is similar to that of molasses.
Fructooligosaccharides and Inulin – Yacon Syrup Active Ingredients
Fructooligosaccharides are types of sugar where the chemical structure makes them indigestible to humans while still tasting sweet.
Along with inulin, yacon syrup also contains sucrose, fructose and glucose although in much smaller quantities, and it can therefore be used as a relatively low-calorie sweetener. However, this is not the main benefit of yacon syrup.
Inulin (3) is a prebiotic which helps promote the friendly bacteria in your gut. These bacteria are an essential component of your digestive system, and work to help keep you healthy. They break down these complex sugars into short-chain fatty acids and other substances beneficial to your health.
It is believed that among the effects of this are a reduction in appetite and a positive weight-reduction effect. This is based on a 2009 study carried out on 55 obese pre-menopausal women with a history of high cholesterol and persistent constipation.
Human Test Results | Yacon Study
In April 2009, the Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study by S.Gneta et al titled: Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans (doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.013. Epub 2009 Feb 28.)
In the trial, 40 women were given a daily quantity of yacon syrup and 15 others a placebo. They were all instructed to consume a low-fat diet, and after 120 days each was measured for weight loss, BMI (body mass index), waist measurement and insulin resistance. Each of the 40 taking the syrup showed a significant improvement in each of these factors, while the 15 taking the placebo displayed no significant changes.
These were significant results, displaying the likelihood that yacon syrup can help reduce weight and body fat, while also reducing the body’s resistance to insulin (corresponding to a reduction in their likelihood of developing diabetes.) There are no reasons for the same not being true of men.
Yacon Syrup Clinical Trial
There is an important Yacon Syrup Study – and is not singular; we considered relevant:
Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans.
In the trial published in 2009*, 40 of these women took a daily intake of the yacon syrup while 15 were given a placebo. All of them were instructed to take a low-fat diet and the results were measured after about 4 months (120 days).
All 40 taking yacon syrup displayed an average 15 Kg weight loss (33lb) and reduced waist measurement, BMI (body mass index) and insulin resistance. Their constipation was also relieved.
The 15 subjects taking the placebo displayed no significant effects at the end of the test period, they gained with 1.6 kg.
Soluble fibers are well known to be beneficial to the digestive system, but the fructooligosaccharides contained in inulin go further than this, and its use does not create the blood sugar spikes associated with other sweet fibers. For this reason, it is a good constipation treatment for diabetics.
However, while yacon syrup has been shown to work, both anecdotally and in one supervised trial, it should be stressed that its effect is temporary. Once the weight has been lost, it is important that you maintain a healthy diet.
Yacon syrup can be used as part of that diet, but it is not necessary if you eat sensibly to maintain your new weight and shape.
Is Yacon Syrup Scam? Summary
It is possible to lose weight by taking a regular intake of yacon syrup. By using this as a sweetener in place of sugar, you should not only lose weight and enjoy a reduced waist measurement but also experienced an improved digestive system, reduced the propensity to constipation and reduce your chances of getting diabetes.
To sum up, yacon syrup contains sweet substances that make it easier for you to maintain a low-calorie diet. It also contains prebiotic inulin that helps maintain a healthy gut and digestive system, which in itself reduces constipation and contributes to weight loss.
Inulin is diabetic-friendly, helps to lower LDL cholesterol, and help to protect you against heart disease and diabetes due to its high antioxidant properties.
One word of warning: do not take a lot of it, to begin with. Start with low doses and work up as your body gets used to it. Yacon syrup can cause gas and flatulence in high doses, so allow your body time to become familiarized with it.
Apart from this, those that use it report yacon syrup to be an effective weight loss supplement that is certainly worth trying.
* Published source of the study:
Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;28(2):182-7. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.013. Epub 2009 Feb 28.
Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans.
Genta S, Cabrera W, Habib N, Pons J, Carillo IM, Grau A, Sánchez S.
