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It's About Your Health
Fiber is the portion of plant foods (whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) that our bodies cannot digest. Because dietary fiber is resistant to digestive enzymes, it is not broken down or absorbed, which means it does not provide calories or energy to the body. According to the American Dietetic Association, dietary fiber has demonstrated benefits for health maintenance, disease prevention, and as a component of medical nutrition therapy.
Consuming a diet lacking in fiber increases the risk of developing gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, diverticular disorders, and swings in blood sugar levels. Most popular foods in the American diet are not high in dietary fiber. This results in the current American diet averaging only about 10 grams of dietary fiber, whereas intakes of 25 to 40 grams are linked to a reduced risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and other intestinal disorders.
There are two types of fibers, soluble and insoluble. Fiber that can dissolve in water such as Fiberrific is referred to as soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber or roughage cannot dissolve in water but can absorb water. This causes them to swell, making them good bulking agents, which speeds up transit time and improves elimination.
In general, high fiber diets are associated with significantly reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer and many other illnesses. Soluble fibers have a cholesterol-lowering effect and they also help regulate blood sugar levels. In diabetes, type 1, a diet high in fiber was reported to improve glycemic control and reduce the number of hypoglycemic events experienced. Patients with type 2 diabetes who were consuming 50 grams of fiber daily were compared to patients following the American Diabetes Association's recommendation of 24 grams of fiber daily. After 6 weeks, patients on the higher fiber diet had substantially better control of blood glucose, insulin and blood lipids.
Fiber is also one of the elements in a program used to treat constipation along with extra hydration and exercise. In fact, studies have indicated that diets that are low in fiber are associated with constipation in both children and in the elderly. Fiber has also been recommended as a dietary addition in therapies with patients who are being treated for hemorrhoids as well as for diverticulosis.
High fiber diets may help protect against obesity according to the results of a study that followed young adults for a period of ten years. Individuals who consumed the least dietary fiber gained 8 pounds more over the 10-year period compared to individuals who consumed at least 21 grams of fiber daily.
The results of numerous studies indicate that people and/or cultures with high fiber diets reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by more than 30%. When the soluble fiber reaches the colon, anaerobic bacteria degrade it in a process called fermentation. This process produces by-products known as short-chain fatty acids, which help maintain proper acid / base balance in the colon and for this reason may play a role in the prevention of colorectal cancer.
Clinical Studies
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