| Author: Jonathan Phillip Obregon 15 Apr 2008 | Member Level: Gold Points : 5 |
This is a very informative post and quite accurate. If I may add the summation of the advantages of taking in dietary fiber: improvements in glucose tolerance and the insulin response, improvements in gastrointestinal health, reduction in the risk of developing some cancers, increased satiety and hence some degree of weight management, reduction of hyperlipidemia, hypertension and other coronary heart disease risk factors. Morevoer, it is important to take note the recommended intake as prescribe by The American Dietetic Association. A minimum of 20-35 g/day for a healthy adult depending on calorie intake (e.g., a 2000 cal/8400 kJ diet should include 25 g of fiber per day). For children, intake should equal age in years plus 5 g/day.
|
| Author: vijay kumar 15 Apr 2008 | Member Level: Diamond Points : 5 |
Dietary Fiber: Dietary fiber comes from the thick cell wall of plants. It is an indigestible complex carbohydrate. Fiber is divided into two general categories: water soluble and water insoluble.
Soluble fiber has been shown to lower cholesterol. However, in many studies, the degree of cholesterol reduction was quite modest. For unknown reasons, diets higher in insoluble fiber (mostly unrelated to cholesterol levels) have been shown to correlate better with protection against heart disease in human trials. Soluble fibers can also lower blood sugar levels, and some doctors believe that increasing fiber decreases the body’s need for insulin—a good sign for diabetics.
Insoluble fiber acts as a stool softener, which speeds digestion through the intestinal tract. For this reason, insoluble fiber is an effective treatment for constipation. The reduction in "transit time" has also been thought to partially explain the link between a high fiber diet and a reduced risk of colon cancer.
|
| Author: vijay kumar 16 Apr 2008 | Member Level: Diamond Points : 5 |
what is dietary fiber? Dietary fiber comes from the portion of plants that is not digested by enzymes in the intestinal tract. Part of it, however, may be metabolized by bacteria in the lower gut.
Different types of plants have varying amounts and kinds of fiber, including pectin, gum, mucilage, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Pectin and gum are water-soluble fibers found inside plant cells. They slow the passage of food through the intestines but do nothing to increase fecal bulk. Beans, oat bran, fruit and vegetables contain soluble fiber.
In contrast, fibers in cell walls are water insoluble. These include cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Such fibers increase fecal bulk and speed up the passage of food through the digestive tract. Wheat bran and whole grains contain the most insoluble fiber, but vegetables and beans also are good sources.
Sometimes there is confusion as to the difference between crude fiber and dietary fiber. Both are determined by a laboratory analysis, but crude fiber is only one-seventh to one-half of total dietary fiber.
|
| Author: vijay kumar 23 Apr 2008 | Member Level: Diamond Points : 5 |
Dietary fiber is the component in food not broken down by native enzymes and secretions of the gastrointestinal tract but which may be metabolized by the bacteria in the lower gut
Similarly, removing the skin from fruits and vegetables decreases their fiber content. So what are your best sources? This list shows the amount of dietary fiber in several types of foods
Foods containing dietary fiber include fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains
Dietary fiber ? also known as roughage or bulk ? includes all parts of plant foods that your body can't digest or absorb
Dietary fiber is found only in plant foods: fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains
Ready Fiber was originally formulated by medical professionals for use in convalescent hospitals where sensitive patients couldn't eat enough foods to get the daily dietary fiber they needed
Before establishing intake recommendations for fiber in 2001, a panel of experts convened by the Institute of Medicine developed definitions of fiber that made a distinction between fiber that occurs naturally in plant foods (dietary fiber) and isolated or synthetic fibers that may be added to foods or used as dietary supplements (functional fiber)
|