What is the importance of having propionic acid in the gut?
Propionic acid is the preferred food for all Bifidobacteria in your gut. Bifidobacteria are the most friendly and helpful bacteria in your gut. Unless someone eats beans, lentils or other pulses every day, it is difficult to produce enough propionic acid to support a healthy population of Bifidobacteria. Propionic acid can also be absorbed into the body where it helps to decrease the amount of cholesterol that your liver makes. It is the propionic acid derived from beans, fruit, and oat fibre that is the active ingredient in lowering a person’s cholesterol level, promoting a healthier heart.
