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Beta-glucan is a water-soluble prebiotic dietary fiber naturally occurring between the husk and the endosperm of barley grains. Barley beta-glucan is a polysaccharide comprised of linear chains of D-glucose monomers linked by β-(1-3) and β-(1-4) bonds. Barley beta-glucan has been clinically proven to lower cholesterol levels and is also approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) - amongst many other countries' food authorities.

Various types of beta-glucan can be found from oats, baker's yeast and mushrooms, however not all of them have the same health benefits. Beta-glucan extracted from barley and oats is the only one clinically proven and scientifically accepted by regulatory agencies to lower cholesterol.

The FDA, ESFA and SFA all recommend a daily intake of 3g (3,000mg) of beta-glucan for its benefits to be effective. 

A mere 15g (2-3 tablespoons) of Gutrient fibre will give you this daily requirement of beta-glucan. And 50g (1 small bowl) of Gutrient Flakes will do the same.  In comparison, you need 100g of oatmeal to obtain this same level of beta-glucan.  You can find capsule supplements on the market for beta-glucan but dosages are between 250mg to 500mg which is far below the recommended 3,000mg.  To ensure your body gets the full health beneftis, it is recommended one consumes it daily.

Countless research, studies and applications on beta-glucan have been around since the 1960s and countries like Japan has used it as an immunoadjuvant therapy for cancer since the early 1980s. Possible reasons why beta-glucans have not gained widespread awareness could be the high cost of extraction (and therefore end-consumer availability) and that while naturally present in some foods, the amount of beta-glucan obtained is not sufficiently high for the benefits to present itself.

When you consume Gutrient in your food & beverages, beta-glucan acts as a gel whose viscosity binds bile acids in your small intestines. Once these bile acids are bound by beta-glucan, they can no longer be recycled into the liver and thus exits the body through the digestive tract. New bile acids will then be needed, which the liver produces by using cholesterol, resulting in lower cholesterol levels. A balanced and healthy cholesterol level is directly linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.

There are no known negative side effects in the consumption of beta-glucans. Toxicology studies have been conducted on long term consumption and on high dosage consumption and the result is beta-glucan is safe as it does not have the ability to over stimulate the immune system. However, gluten is a found in wheat, rye and barley so people who are gluten sensitive should avoid consumption of such foods. If unsure, always consult your physician for professional advice.

Simply add it into smoothies, shakes, malt beverage, soups, cereals, sauces, gravies or porridge. The fiber has an earthy, neutral taste and will not affect the base flavour of the dish.  Some customers simply stir it into warm water and drink it straight.  As a raw ingredient, make it a part of your bread, pastry or cookie recipes. 

Take it with or without meals. You can take Gutrient any time of the day, with or without meals. A side note is that beta-glucan can enhance satiety and slow stomach emptying so having it with meals may allow one to feel full for a longer period of time.

All 15g in one go or split over the day.  Many users split the dosage over the course of their day while some take it in one go. It does not matter as long as you get your 3g of beta-glucan a day.

I've seen several products on the market claiming beta-glucan as an ingredient, are they any good?

We encourage everyone to increase their intake of dietary fibre regardless the source as the Asian diet is typically low on dietary fibre and this has led to a continued rise in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.  Beta-glucan has been increasingly touted as a key ingredient in products like cereal and health supplements.  As a guide, we recommend one pays attention to two things when considering beta-glucan products or supplements.  First is the amount of beta-glucan 'per serving' as many products do not provide the recommended daily intake of 3g (that's 3,000mg!) in its serving size.  The second is the purity in which the beta-glucan is derived.  It is common that products and supplements in the market combine various sources from barley, oats, baker's yeast and mushrooms, together with additional additives and flavourings. 

Gutrient is 100% pure and our serving size of 15g of fibre and 50g of flakes will deliver the necessary 3g. 

First off, they're two completely different types of barley strains. Hulless barley has its hull loosely attached to the kern and naturally falls off during harvesting while hulled barley requires more processing to remove the hull. This difference in harvesting and processing means that hulless barley is very minimally processed and has more of its bran and endosperm intact and is thus more nutritious.  Much of the nutrients from grains like oats, wheat and barley lies in the bran – the layer between the husk and the endosperm. As rankings go, hulless barley is by far the healthiest, least processed and least common, followed by hulled barley which like oats is subjected to more processing and widely available in the market. Side note - pearl barley is the most processed and has the least nutrients. Hulless and hulled barley are considered as whole grains while pearl barley is not.

Gutrient is best stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Always keep it sealed to avoid moisture from getting in.  While Gutrient does not contain any preservatives, barley is a naturally hardy grain and can be kept for years under proper conditions - check the 'best before' date as reference.

Beta-glucan is safe to be consumed by pregnant and nursing women. In fact, beta-glucan has shown to support prolactin levels in breastfeeding mothers which helps in milk production. Gutrient also works with a Singaporean maternity hospital in the production of a lactation cookie using Gutrient.

 Children, as young as aged 3 and above, can benefit from beta-glucan in their diet. There are no known risks on children younger than 3 years old, however young children generally do not benefit from supplementation.