Empowering Wellness with Inulin: Nature’s Hidden Gem

A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Waistline

Photo by Gareth Hubbard on Unsplash

You know those moments where you read ingredients, or you hear words and you pretend you know what something is? I see that happening a lot with a particular type of fiber that’s often added to packaged foods. It’s called inulin. While often listed as an ingredient, it’s found naturally in many plants! Plants produce inulin and use it for energy. In humans, inulin is a soluble fiber that can’t be absorbed in the small intestine. Instead, it travels to the colon, where it’s fermented by bacteria and acts as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial gut bacteria we want.

As I mentioned, inulin is found in about 36,000 different plant species. A few you might be familiar with include: asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, burdock root, chicory (which is often used in salads), dandelion root, garlic, leeks, and onions. Speaking of chicory, when inulin is used as a supplement or in packaged foods, it’s usually derived from chicory root. Fun fact: ancient Egyptians used chicory as medicine, which hints at its beneficial properties!

But here’s something to keep in mind. Remember I mentioned inulin is in a lot of packaged foods? Manufacturers extract inulin from chicory by soaking it in hot water. When mixed with water in specific ways, it can mimic the texture of fat…