Mexican scientists fight obesity with barley tortillas

A group of scientists from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) created barley tortillas as an alternative to improve the population's diet and fight obesity.

Barley

is a great alternative for people with chronic degenerative diseases and the elderly with i nsufficient intestinal motility . The tortilla is called Maltitortilla Glucofixed .

Mexico has

the first place on childhood obesity and second place obesity in adults , therefore, the experts of the School of Medicine (ESM) decided to develop this nutritional alternative.

In addition to being committed to the timely detection of diseases , researchers devote their efforts to the search for real solutions with functional foods that combat the risk factors that cause diabetes , as its rates increase every day.

The scientists , Gustavo Acosta Altamirano, Gabriela Cortés Moreno, Eleazar Lara Padilla, and Ana María González Farías, supported by the students Ladys Moreno Galicia and Marlene Hernández Hernández , made this alternative tortilla , after they were convinced that barley is an unused cereal in the industry , because it is only used as food for livestock and in the production of beer .

"The barley tortilla has a glycemic index much lower than that of corn , which allows decreasing the absorption of glucose because the enzymes of the microvilli of the human intestines cannot hydrolyze the beta-glucoside components of the polysaccharides present in the barley ," they explained.

This food is ideal for people with chronic-degenerative conditions such as diabetes, overweight, obesity , and gastrointestinal problems , as well as for individuals with nutrient deficiency states, also favors the healthy growth of children.

Barley

has vitamins such as folic acid and choline, vitamin K , and it's also a good source of potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus . Its greatest virtue is the richness in these elements : iron, sulfur, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, selenium, iodine, and molybdenum .

Unlike corn and wheat , it contains lysine, an amino acid essential for the synthesis of muscle mas s and strengthening of the immune system.

The experts explained that the barley tortillas also make consumers happy because the cereal contains a hordenine , which acts as a natural antiseptic at the intestinal level and stimulates dopaminergic receptors, which among other functions, play a very important role in the mood and motivation of people.

"Not only will we focus on tortilla production, but with the formula obtained, we will also develop other foods for popular consumption, such as tamales and bread products," said Acosta Altamirano , who also coordinates the Master's in Research at ESM .

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