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Dietary Fiber and Health
� 3-9 % Insoluble fiber: cellulose, xylans & others.
Dietary fiber is generally accepted as having protective effects against a range of diseases. The term �dietary fiber� is defined as plant material that resists
Digestion by the secreted enzymes of the human alimentary tract . However they may be fermented by micro flora in the colon. Most hydrocolloids can be listed as fiber. Increased fiber consumption has been associated with lowering total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, modifying the glycemic and insulinemic response and protecting the large intestine from disease.
Increase of fiber to assist against, coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and diverticular disease.
Lack of fiber typical a problem of Western society. The physiological properties of a polysaccharide are difficult to predict they do have effect physicochemical properties such as fermentation, water-holding capacity, viscosity, and bile acid binding.
The principal components of dietary fiber are non-starch polysaccharides, hetero polysaccharides, pectins. Non-digestible oligosaccharides have aroused significant interest in recent years due to their ability to stimulate growth of potentially beneficial bacteria such as Bifid bacteria in the gut.
Consumption of hydrocolloids has been found to, increase stool weight, alter gut transit time, alter activity of the colonic micro flora, influence appetite, absorb toxins and modify the absorption of fats, sugars, minerals and bile acids.
Polysaccharides, several �seaweed� pigments including chlorophyll, and all the antioxidant vitamins and minerals, help cleanse the digestive tract, blood, lymph, and kidneys, and neutralize cholesterol.
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