Research finds: Eating wheat germ polysaccharides can help prevent aging! Only this kind of food contains →

Speaking of maltose, everyone is familiar with it. my country started to make maltose with germinated barley two thousand years ago, and then made many delicious foods, such as dragon beard candy, blown sugar figures, sugar cubes, etc. The food made with it has a softer sweetness.

Sesame stalk maltose. Copyright image. Reprinting and using may cause copyright disputes.

In this article, we are going to talk about wheat germ polysaccharide, which has a similar name to maltose. Although it is also a "sugar", new research says that eating it can prevent aging. What is going on? This article will talk about it.

Can wheat germ polysaccharide fight aging?

In order to slow down aging, many people have become "anti-sugar" and are often afraid of the word "sugar". However, not all sugars promote aging. A while ago, a research team from Jiangnan University published a study that mentioned the potential anti-aging effects of wheat germ polysaccharides .

During this research, in order to cover multiple angles of molecules, animals and humans, the researchers made two preparations. On the one hand, they collected fecal samples from 6 healthy young students of the school to conduct in vitro research on human intestinal bacteria; on the other hand, they used "aged" mice for animal experiments.

The study found that in the in vitro fermentation test, within just 24 hours, the abundance of intestinal bacteria such as Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium and Lactococcus, which are beneficial to human health, increased , while potentially harmful bacteria such as Alternaria and Klebsiella decreased, and metabolites related to anti-aging and protection of the nervous system increased, and metabolic pathways became more active. These changes in the intestinal flora led to an increase of more than 13 times in the amount of short-chain fatty acids and indole-3-lactic acid, and an increase of 7.17 times and 4.23 times in the amount of acetylcholine and γ-aminobutyric acid, respectively. Many studies in recent years have shown that the improvement of intestinal flora has a positive effect on anti-aging.

In the experiment on accelerated aging mice, the mice whose motor ability, memory, and cognitive function declined after "accelerated aging" all showed significant improvements after supplementing with wheat germ polysaccharides. The chronic inflammatory indicators related to aging were reduced, and oxidative stress damage was also alleviated.

Overall, the results of this study indicate that wheat germ polysaccharides can exert powerful anti-aging capabilities by improving intestinal flora and regulating metabolites.

Is wheat germ polysaccharide maltose?

"Wheat germ polysaccharide" and "maltose" have similar names. Are they related? In fact, both are "sugars" obtained from wheat as raw material.

1

Source

Maltose is made by fermenting a mixture of germinated wheat malt and glutinous rice porridge. Liquid will precipitate during this process, and this liquid can be used to make maltose. Wheat germ polysaccharide is extracted from wheat that has not yet germinated.

2

Composition

Maltose is a disaccharide composed of 2 glucose molecules; wheat germ polysaccharides are mainly composed of glucose, arabinose, galactose and xylose.

In other words: maltose and wheat germ polysaccharides are indeed related and are "close relatives".

How nutritious is wheat germ?

Since wheat germ polysaccharides have the potential to resist aging, where can we get them in our daily life? Of course, we can get them by eating wheat germ!

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

Wheat germ is the embryo of wheat. It is a golden yellow granule that accounts for about 3% of wheat grains. It is the essence of wheat and is rich in nutrients. It has excellent protein, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin E and other nutrients.

1

protein

The protein content of wheat germ is as high as over 20%, and it contains 8 essential amino acids for the human body, accounting for 34.74% of the total amino acid content in wheat. Among them, the ratio of essential amino acids is close to the amino acid composition ratio of eggs, soybeans, and beef, as well as the reference ratio recommended by WHO/FAO, and the digestion and absorption rate is high.

2

Dietary fiber

The total dietary fiber content of wheat germ is as high as 13.2g/100g, which is much higher than the staple foods we often eat, such as rice and wheat flour. Eating 100g can meet half of our daily dietary fiber needs, which helps prevent constipation and protect intestinal health.

3

Mineral Potassium

The potassium content of wheat germ is 892mg/100g. Eating 100g can meet 44.6% of the general population's daily potassium requirement. Daily intake of potassium is not only beneficial to blood pressure health, but also can maintain normal myocardial function. It also plays an important role in regulating the body's water balance and electrolyte balance.

4

Mineral zinc

The zinc content of wheat germ is really excellent among cereals, up to 12.3mg/100g. The daily zinc requirements of Chinese men and women are 12mg/d and 8.5mg/d respectively, and eating 80-100g can almost meet the needs. Zinc plays an important role in growth and development, maintaining immunity, skin health, reproductive health, etc.

5

B vitamins

Wheat germ contains a lot of B vitamins, such as vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, and folic acid. B vitamins are involved in the body's metabolism and are related to the regulation of immune health, skin health, mental health, and so on.

6

Vitamin E

Wheat germ, as the "core part" of wheat, is rich in vitamin E. This nutrient has a strong antioxidant effect, can protect body cells from free radical damage, strengthen the body's immune function, and is also important for the health of the reproductive system. However, most of us now have enough vitamin E in our diet.

7

Bioactive ingredients

Wheat germ also contains polyphenols, phytosterols, carotenoids and other biologically active ingredients.

In addition, wheat germ is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to cardiovascular health. Because wheat germ is very nutritious, it is also called "a natural treasure house of nutrition for humans."

Contribution of some nutrients of wheat germ

How to eat wheat germ?

The wheat germ we buy now is almost all in the form of flakes or powder. It is actually very simple to eat. For example, you can use it directly to cook porridge, soak milk, make pasta, bake bread, etc., all of which are delicious.

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

However, because wheat germ is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, it is easy to oxidize and become rancid. If it is not stored properly, it will deteriorate and have an odor, reducing its edible value . It is recommended to buy a small amount each time and store it in a sealed and dark place after each serving, or store it in the refrigerator after sealing. It is better if it can be stored in a vacuum.

Summarize:

Wheat germ is nutritious and delicious, and it also contains wheat germ polysaccharides. You can eat it if you have the conditions. Although studies have mentioned that wheat germ polysaccharides have potential in anti-aging, this does not mean that eating it can make us younger. Don't rely too much on it. After all, a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet are the most critical factors!

References

[1]Duan, Hui et al. "Interactions between wheat germ polysaccharide and gut microbiota through in vitro batch fecal fermentation and an aging mice model: Targeting enrichment of Bacteroides uniformis and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum." International journal of biological molecules vol. 253, Pt 8 (2023): 127559. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127559

[2] Lan Xiaoguang. Nutritional value and development and utilization of wheat germ[J]. Agricultural Engineering Technology, 2022, 42(14): 89-90

[3]https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168892/nutrients

Planning and production

Author: Xue Qingxin, registered nutritionist

Review丨Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center

Planning丨Yinuo

Editor: Yinuo

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin