Inulin, a natural dietary fiber found in over 3,000 plants, is gaining popularity in the food industry due to its impressive health benefits and versatility.
Extracted from sources such as chicory roots, inulin is not only a valuable dietary supplement, but also an excellent ingredient for creating healthier food options.
What is inulin?
Inulin is a type of fructan—a carbohydrate made up of fructose molecules. Unlike other carbohydrates, inulin is not digested in the small intestine. Instead, it reaches the colon intact, where it acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. This property helps improve digestion, enhance mineral absorption, and manage conditions like constipation.
Where can you find inulin?
Inulin occurs naturally in common vegetables and plants, including chicory root, asparagus, garlic, onions, bananas, and wheat. Commercially, chicory is the primary source of inulin used in food products due to its high inulin content and ease of processing.
Why Should we include inulin in our diet?
As a dietary supplement, inulin offers a number of benefits:
The role of chicory-derived inulin in food products
Chicory root inulin is particularly valuable in food production because of its neutral flavor, mild sweetness (about 10%-30% of the sweetness of sucrose), and ability to blend seamlessly into various formulations. It improves texture, mimics fat and enhances the mouthfeel of low-fat or reduced-sugar products without compromising taste.
For anyone looking to develop healthier, high-fiber and low-calorie foods that meet today’s dietary needs, inulin—especially from chicory—is a smart, versatile choice.
It’s time to take advantage of this incredible ingredient and make our food not only tasty, but truly functional!
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