IPHY 2420 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Guar Gum, Dietary Fiber, Whole Food
26 Sep 2017
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Document Summary
Fiber, or dietary fiber, is the support structure of leaves and stems in plants. It is the non- digestible part of the plant. Functional fiber is fiber extracted from plants and is added to foods for human consumption (fiberone bars, pectin, cellulose, guar gum). Total fiber intake includes both dietary and functional fiber. Whole foods are foods that are not processed (not the grocery store). Soluble fibers are easily digested by the colon. Soluble fiber is found in citrus fruits, berries, oats, jams/jellies, and beans. Soluble fibers reduce the risk of heart attack, diabetes, lowers cholesterol, and manages blood glucose levels. Insoluble fiber cannot be dissolved in water, is not fermented by the colon. Insoluble fiber is found in whole grains and vegetables. Fiber in general is incredibly beneficial for you. It lowers the risk of colon cancer, and prevents weight gain, hemorrhoids/diverticulosis (extreme constipation, if uncured colon will be infected, common in elderly).
