Changing Composition Of Gut Bacteria Offers Major Health Benefits

Pasta enriched with indigestible fiber known as beta-glucan – found naturally in oats and barley – increases beneficial bacteria in the gut, reduces non-beneficial bacteria, and significantly lowers bad cholesterol in the blood, according to a new Italian study.  Researchers tested blood and fecal samples at the beginning and end of the two-month study. There was a notable increase in beneficial Lactobacilli, and a reduction in Enterobacteriaceae, and other non-beneficial bacteria. In addition, the average low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol fell from 107.4 to 93.8 mg/dl.