Many people have different ways of defining dietary fiber. Still, its most appropriate definition is a part of food that cannot be fully synthesized or broken down by the body enzymes involved in indigestion. Mainly dietary fibers are classified according to their solubility and viscosity, showing how different bodies react with the fiber. Moreover, these kinds of fibers are not only resistant to the digestive enzymes of human beings but also to other mammals.
Dietary fibers are mainly classified into different classes regarding where they are found and their solubility. Dietary fiber classes include soluble fibers that attract water during digestion. Soluble fibers are further classified into; gums, psyllium, Inulin, and B-glucans used to assist digestion. Secondly is the dietary fiber that contains Lignin, cellulose, Pectins, and Gums that contain nondigestible carbohydrates that are intact in plants. Another dietary fiber class is the fermentable fiber-containing Wheat dextrin, Pectins, and Guar gum metabolized by colonic bacteria. We have viscous fiber-containing Pectins, B-glucans, and some gums characterized by gel-forming behaviors in the intestinal tracks.
There are also insoluble fibers that include Lignin and some hemicelluloses that enlarge the stool weight. Functional fibers are further subdivided into Fructooligosaccharides, insolated gums, and polydextrose. We also have other classes, such as the non-fermentable fibers containing cellulose and Lignin and non-viscous fibers classified into Inulin and polydextrose. (Joanne, 2013).
Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in the health of a human being, and some of its benefits to human health include the following. Conclusion: there is a decrease in the intake of calories, which results from complex carbohydrates that have less fat and sugar content. It also lowers and prevents the rate of constipation since the fiber in the food increases the weight of the stool, thus making it more efficient. Intake of dietary fiber also moderates the insulin response in the body which prevents blood sugar levels from spiking up high. Furthermore, it decreases atherosclerosis due to the low intake of cholesterols in the body. Intake of dietary fiber benefits one’s health since one can evade cardiovascular risks since there is a reduction in the intake of fats. It also slows glucose intake in the body, thus reducing the risks of postprandial hyperglycemia. Also, another benefit of dietary fiber is that it reduces high intakes of food in our bodies, and people only take the required amount of food into the body, thus preventing obesity.
In many cases, dietary fiber benefits the body by preventing constipation on many occasions. Fiber is mainly contained in carbohydrates that are crucial in avoiding constipation. Fiber increases the weight of the stool, which is crucial in eliminating waste products from the body. Through this, eliminating waste products from our bodies is more effective because of fiber. The kind of fiber in the body can be informed of fermented or non-fermented fiber, viscous or non-viscous fiber, and this assists in making the elimination of waste products in our bodies more efficient.
The dietary fiber also retains water that makes the stool soften, thus easy movement of the stool out of the body through the anus. Water retention is more crucial to the soluble and insoluble fibers that make them soft. Furthermore, polysaccharides are important in the food dietary food system since they assist and work as the contracting agents that enable the food to increase its viscosity and assist in the absorption of water. They also increase the weight of the stool to prevent constipation during the release of waste products out of the body. Moreover, they assist in water retention to make the materials succulent and the stool soft. They are added to food products to increase their fiber content, which ensures continuous.
Intake of fibers into our bodies benefits us due to a reduction in the intake of calories through the junk food that we take daily. Due to this, people can control their weight since complex carbohydrates contain less fat and cholesterol. It provides satiety in either a liquid or solid fiber diet, which benefits our bodies.
Absorption of nutrients is key to all body processes that cannot run effectively without taking the required nutrients. Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in nutrient absorption in the body. Absorbing nutrients that contain fiber affects a person’s decision-making capacity and mood. Foods that contain fiber draw a lot of water, and this assists in managing the weight in the body and adapting to taking fewer calories. Furthermore, it improves the introspection ability of a person and the ability to lay strategies to attain the objectives set. Some fiber intakes increase absorption rate since some contain energy in their raw form.
Dietary fiber is applied in many industries since it contains a lot of benefits; as discussed earlier though they are applied in many industries. Industries that produce baked goods use fiber to extend their freshness due to their ability to retain water, avoiding any loss from the industries producing such goods. Also, dietary fiber is used in the fruit industry since the consumers recommend its soluble and viscosity. Through this, the industry gets more profits concerning the benefits of dietary fiber. Furthermore, dietary fiber is used massively in dairy products since they use Inulin, which improves the products to avoid spoiling faster.
They also benefit the products such as yogurt and fermented milk to lower synaeresis. They are used in industries to manufacture food products such as glucose, which contains energy mainly used to break down protein and release energy into the body. Wheat has also been replaced by different fibers that make the products produced have a high fiber content. Furthermore, the fiber in the wheat products and other products used, such as potatoes, increases the fiber content to satisfy customer needs. Some products, such as leguminous crops, are rich in fiber, and this assists many industries in manufacturing products that are rich in fiber. (Robyn, 2019).
In conclusion, as discussed above, it’s evident that dietary fiber has many benefits not only directly to our health but also to the manufacturing industries to ensure their products remain fresh in the market.
References
Joanne Salvin. (2013). Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. https://file:///C:/Users/STEVE/Downloads/Fibre%20Mechanism%20&%20Health%20Benefit%20(1).pdf
RobynLarsen(2019). Carbohydrates. https://file:///C:/Users/STEVE/Downloads/FOOD20003%202022%20Carbohydrates%20(Human%20Nutrition).pdf
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