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Posted on Apr 16, 2014, 6 a.m.
Agavins, a natural form of sugar found in the Agave plant, may help to lower blood sugar and manage weight, among type-2 diabetics.
Agave is the plant from which the distilled beverage, tequila, is made. Agave is abundant in agavins, a natural form of sugar that are non-digestible and can act as a dietary fiber. Mercedes G. Lopez, from Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados (Mexico), and colleagues have identified that agavins reduce glucose levels and increase glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone that slows the stomach from emptying, thereby stimulating production of insulin. Agavins also appear to increase the amount of insulin. Further, the compound helps to support growth of healthful microbes in the mouth and intestines.
Lopez MG. “Agavins as potential novel sweeteners for obese and diabetic people.” Presented at the 247th Annual Conference of the American Chemical Society, 16 March 2014.
