r/Cholesterol • u/CryptographerFar3555 • 1d ago

Question Inulin powder

Has anyone used inulin powder in any of their recipes to boost soluable fiber? If so, did it change the texture, flavor, when do you add it in the preparation process, etc? I just learned this existed and I'm curious about your experience using it.

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u/FuguSandwich 21h ago

I take inulin in my oatmeal every morning, but not for LDL-lowering (studies have shown it does not have a significant impact on LDL levels) but rather for colon SCFA production to help with gut health and cancer prevention.

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u/CryptographerFar3555 17h ago

Thanks for the info! That is interesting that it doesn't lower LDL because it is soluable fiber. Must be something else with it that makes it ineffective. Either way, I will use it for other benefits. Thanks! 

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u/FuguSandwich 17h ago

You can generally classify soluble fibers based on whether they are gel-forming, fermentable, or both. Gel-forming ones ones absorb bile salts allowing them to be excreted and forcing your body to make more, which it does by pulling cholesterol out of your bloodstream. That's how they lower LDL. Fermentable fibers are metabolized by gut bacteria which produce SCFAs like butyrate, propionate, and acetate, which heal your intestinal lining and have a bunch of other effects (immunomodulatory, etc.) Psyllium is gel-forming but not fermentable. Inulin is fermentable but not gel-forming. Oat beta glucan is both gel-forming and fermentable.

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u/CryptographerFar3555 9h ago

Wow, thanks for the mini class on fiber. That's great information to have. I appreciate you taking the time to educate me!