Dietary fiber is a carbohydrate polysaccharide. Such foods include corn, whole wheat flour, oats, standard flour, millet, etc. It is a substance that is difficult or cannot be digested and absorbed by plant cells after being ingested by the human body. It includes cellulose, semi- Cellulose, lignin and pectin, etc. It can neither be digested and absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract nor produce energy. Therefore, it was once considered a \”non-nutritional substance\” and did not receive enough attention for a long time. After the 1970s, it was discovered that it is beneficial in preventing diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, etc., which attracted the attention of the nutritional community.
The main physiological functions of dietary fiber are as follows:
1. Promote intestinal peristalsis, eliminate harmful substances from the body, and prevent constipation.
2. Inhibit the action of amylase, delay sugar absorption, and stabilize blood sugar absorption.
3. Adsorb cholesterol, inhibit its absorption, and accelerate its excretion, thereby reducing blood cholesterol, which is beneficial to the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
4. Due to the above effects, multi-fiber meals are large in size and low in energy, which is beneficial to weight control and prevention of obesity.
The diet of our people is mainly based on cereals, supplemented by vegetables and fruits, so there is no risk of dietary fiber deficiency. However, with the improvement of living standards, the degree of food refinement is getting higher and higher. , the proportion of animal food has greatly increased. The heat-producing proportion of dietary fat among residents in some big cities has increased from 20% to 25% a few decades ago to the current 40% to 45%, while the intake of dietary fiber has decreased significantly. Well, less and less fiber”. This has led to an increasing incidence of some so-called \”diseases of modern civilization\”, such as obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, etc., as well as some diseases related to too little dietary fiber, such as intestinal cancer, constipation, and intestinal polyps.
There are no regulations on the supply of dietary fiber. Due to different dietary compositions, the intake varies greatly. The appropriate supply needs to be determined based on race, age, eating habits and other factors.
