Secret slimming: sweet potato wastewater

Wondering what is this all about? Can you actually slim while still enjoying that delicious potato pie that you like so much? The answer: yes, you might. And I say might as the proteins in wastewater from sweet potato processing are proved to reduce fat levels and weight in… mice. As for us, we still need to wait for a while.

According to a new study published in the journal Heliyon, mice on a high-fat diet had significantly lower body weight after one month if they were also fed sweet potato peptide, which was produced by enzyme digestion of proteins in the water wasted during processing. This suggests the peptide plays a role in digesting fats, but more research is needed to determine whether this also happens in humans.

During his new study, Dr. Koji Ishiguro from National Agriculture and Food Research Organization in Japan added:

“We were surprised that SPP reduced the levels of fat molecules in the mice and that it appears to be involved controlling appetite suppression molecules. (…)These results are very promising, providing new options for using this wastewater instead of discarding it. We hope SPP is used for the functional food material in future.”

So there you have it. A new lead on how we can use the wastewater from sweet potato processing to help us lose weight, at least in theory. As for the practical reality, for now, we will stick to enjoy those delicious Christmas pies.