Determine some Beneficial effects of phytates?
Some of the health promotive aspects of phytates include:
1) Phytic acid is a known antioxidant. Colonic bacteria produce oxygen radicals in appreciable accounts. Dietary phytic acid suppresses free radical mediated damage to intestinal epithelium.
2) Protective benefits are seen particularly in relation to carcinogenesis, particularly against colon cancers. Complexing of iron by phytate may reduce iron-catalyzed production of free radicals and reduce lipid peroxidation. Also, phytate-containing foods have a higher fibre content. Studies show that signal-transduction pathways, cell cycle regulatory and differentiation genes, oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes may be involved in phytate's anti-neoplastic effects.
3) Lowering blood glucose and lipids.
4) Binding amylase and reducing starch digestion.
5) Lowering plasma cholesterol and triglycerides.