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Dietary Fiber
Are you getting enough fiber every day?
Chances are, if you eat at least 4 portions of unskinned fresh fruit and vegetables and a
minimum of 6 servings of whole grain carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, pasta, wholemeal
bread) you're getting adequate fibre and have a healthy digestive tract.
While supplements should not be used as an excuse for poor eating habits, they can
certainly help compensate and make the stress of daily living a little more manageable.
Fiber
Unlike other carbohydrates, dietary fiber is unavailable as an energy source. This
nutrient cannot be broken down by digestive enzymes and consequently passes through the
intestine without being absorbed.
Although fiber provides no caloric contribution to the diet, it affects digestion and
health in important ways, for example, some types of fiber bind water, creating a softer
stool that passes more rapidly through the colon.
Fiber can be found in abundance in a variety of foods. Unprocessed breads and cereals,
fruits and vegetables, and legumes are some of the best sources.
Some types of fiber, such as cellulose and hemicellulose, are made up of simple sugars and
considered carbohydrates. Others, such as lignin (a component of the woody parts of
plants), cannot technically be considered carbohydrates but, because they are
indigestible, are still classified as fiber.
Despite the image you may have of fiber, not all fiber is coarse and rough; fiber's vary
dramatically in their consistency. While cellulose is generally tough and fibrous, other
forms like pectin (a form of hemicellulose) and agar, are sticky or gummy.
Scientists divide dietary fiber into two general categories: soluble and insoluble.
Soluble fibers dissolve in water and include pectin, guar, carrageenan, gums, mucilage,
and oat bran. And yet it is soluble fibers that are of considerable current interest.
Insoluble fibers do not seem to affect serum cholesterol levels. Insoluble fibers include
cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.
For those of us with neither the inclination nor the time to load up on vegetables and
bran every day, you may wish to consider a dietary supplement with superior absorption and
bulking properties to help cleanse your system.
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