Dietary Fiber: All Fibers are not Alike

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dietary fiber intake protects against chronic disease, especially cardiovascular disease.Usual dietary fiber intake is less than half of recommended levels, so most consumers need to increase consumption of high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits.Fiber may have a role in the prevention and treatment of digestive disorders such as constipation. For more complicated digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, fiber may be helpful.While some health benefits of dietary fiber clearly pertain to its physical properties (e.g., colonic bulk), fiber and phytochemicals are almost impossible to separate in epidemiologic studies. Much of the health effect of fiber may be due to the phytochemicals with which it is associated. Therefore, best medical practice is to encourage fiber consumption from foods. Fiber supplements may be recommended for laxation and cholesterol lowering, but whole foods high in dietary fiber also contain phytochemicals that provide additional health benefits. Dietary fiber intake protects against chronic disease, especially cardiovascular disease. Usual dietary fiber intake is less than half of recommended levels, so most consumers need to increase consumption of high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Fiber may have a role in the prevention and treatment of digestive disorders such as constipation. For more complicated digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis, fiber may be helpful. While some health benefits of dietary fiber clearly pertain to its physical properties (e.g., colonic bulk), fiber and phytochemicals are almost impossible to separate in epidemiologic studies. Much of the health effect of fiber may be due to the phytochemicals with which it is associated. Therefore, best medical practice is to encourage fiber consumption from foods. Fiber supplements may be recommended for laxation and cholesterol lowering, but whole foods high in dietary fiber also contain phytochemicals that provide additional health benefits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationNutrition and Health (United Kingdom)
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages13-24
Number of pages12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Publication series

NameNutrition and Health (United Kingdom)
VolumePart F3880
ISSN (Print)2628-197X
ISSN (Electronic)2628-1961

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.

Keywords

  • colon function
  • dietary fiber
  • Fiber
  • whole grain

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