What Are Beta Glucans? Meet The New Fibre Hero for Your Health and Performance

In the world of nutrition, sometimes it’s the smallest ingredients that make the biggest difference. Beta-Glucans are one of those unsung heroes. Known for supporting heart health, balancing blood sugar, and helping with recovery, these natural fibres are gaining recognition for their impressive benefits. Whether you’re looking to boost your wellness or fuel your performance, Beta-Glucans offer long-lasting energy and gentle recovery support that keeps you going, for longer.

What are Beta-Glucans?

Beta-Glucans are a type of soluble fibre found in the cell walls of foods like oats, barley, mushrooms, and seaweed. Unlike some fibres that pass through the digestive system unchanged, Beta-Glucans dissolve in water and form a gel-like substance in the gut, which helps them work their magic to support overall health.

Beta-Glucans Benefits

According to recent studies, there are a number of benefits including:

  1. Heart Health: Beta-glucans can help the body to naturally manage cholesterol levels, supporting a healthy heart.
  2. Balanced Blood Sugar: They gently slow the absorption of carbohydrates, helping to keep blood sugar levels steady after meals.
  3. Immune Support: Beta-glucans work to activate key immune cells, helping your body to stay resilient.
  4. Gut Health: Acting as prebiotics, beta-glucans nourish the good bacteria in your gut, promoting better digestion and overall wellness.
  5. Soothing Inflammation: These fibres are known for their ability to help reduce inflammation, supporting recovery and long-term health.
  6. Cell Protection: Beta-glucans have been found to have antioxidant effects, helping to protect your cells from everyday wear and tear.

Can Beta-Glucans support performance?

When paired with protein, Beta-Glucans offer even more support for active lifestyles, including:

  1. Sustained Energy: Beta-Glucans provide a steady release of energy to keep you powered throughout your workouts and the day.

  2. Recovery Support: By helping to keep your blood sugar balanced and reducing inflammation, Beta-Glucans promote faster, smoother recovery.

  3. Immune Strength: A stronger immune system means a resilient body, with fewer interruptions to your routine, helping you stay on top of your game.

  4. Improved Endurance: With consistent energy and better recovery, Beta-Glucans may help you to build endurance over time.

Beta Glucans - Woman Running - Organic Protein Diet

Gluten-Free Oat Fibre: A Great Source of Beta-Glucans

In BodyMe Protein Shakes, we include gluten-free oat fibre as a natural source of Beta-Glucans. This not only delivers their wellness benefits but also gives our shakes a smooth, creamy texture—without the need for artificial thickeners or emulsifiers so often found in vegan protein powders. Gluten-free oat fibre is gentle on your digestion, making it a great choice for everyone, especially those with gluten sensitivities.

How to Add Beta-Glucans to Your Diet

Adding Beta-Glucans to your diet is simple with BodyMe Protein Shakes, which include 0.7 grams of Beta-Glucans per serving. You can also boost your daily intake from these natural sources:

  • Oats
  • Barley
  • Mushrooms (reishi, shiitake, maitake)
  • Seaweed
  • Yeast
  • Whole Grains (rye, wheat)
  • Algae (spirulina, chlorella)

Head over to our recipe page for some Beta Glucan  High Fibre Recipes  to fuel your everyday performance. 

To find out more about BodyMe Protein Shakes head to www.bodyme.co.uk

Summary

Beta-Glucans are a valuable addition to any diet, offering benefits that range from heart health to performance support. Whether you’re incorporating them through whole foods or a convenient protein shake, they are an easy and effective way to boost your wellness and stay strong.

References

  • UK Government (2020). Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register: Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register
  • Rebello, C. J., O’Neil, C. E., & Greenway, F. L. (2016). Dietary fiber and satiety: the effects of oats on satiety. Nutrition Reviews, 74(2), 131-147.
  • Paudel, D., Dhungana, B., Caffe, M., & Krishnan, P. (2021). A review of health-beneficial properties of oats. Foods, 10(11), 2591. A review of health-beneficial properties of oats
  • Bashir, K. M. I., & Choi, J. S. (2017). Clinical and physiological perspectives of β-glucans: The past, present, and future. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 18(9), 1906. Clinical and physiological perspectives of β-glucans: The past, present, and future
  • de Marco Castro, E. M., Calder, P. C., & Roche, H. M. (2020). β-1,3/1,6-glucans and Immunity: State of the Art and Future Directions. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. [β-1,3/1,6-glucans and Immunity: State of the Art and Future Directions](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mnfr.201901071
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9607031/

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