Probiotics or “good bacteria” reduce fat absorption, according to a new study.
Our diet radically changes the nature of the bacteria that make up our intestinal flora. Thus, many studies have shown that obese people for the most part have unbalanced flora.
New work, carried out on a small group of participants (20 men aged 18 to 30), shows that taking probiotics could rebalance our intestinal flora and, ultimately, make you lose weight. This study was published in the journal Obesity.
Probiotic milkshake
For four weeks, participants ate a high fat diet. Among them, some drank a milkshake containing VSL3, a probiotic made from multiple bacteria including the Lactobacillus acidophile and Bifidobacterium longum. The others consumed a placebo milkshake.
Researchers from the Virginia Tech Institute observed that the men who consumed the mixture with probiotics gained less weight than the second group.
According to scientists, it is the action of the probiotic that explains the lower weight gain. Indeed, it transforms the microbiota of the intestines and prevents an accumulation of fat in the body. Researchers also suggest that probiotics may reduce lipid absorption and impact the body’s energy expenditure.
Probiotics are naturally present in yogurts or fermented milk, but also in kefir (drink resulting from the fermentation of milk or sweet fruit juice), sauerkraut or olives.
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