Scientists have discovered more reasons to consume fiber

Scientists have discovered more reasons to consume fiber

Health experts have long tested the benefits of insoluble fiber in regulating bowel function and overall health. New findings from the University of Minnesota provide new evidence The importance of fiber composition in our daily meals Offers. In their new study, scientists discovered that each source of insoluble fiber has distinct bioactive components. These compounds have been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that their health benefits go beyond fiber.

Joan Slavin“People understand the need for fiber and its connection to gut health,” says one of the paper’s authors and a professor in the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences. This is an area of ​​health that is becoming increasingly important; Because scientific research is still revealing its effects on our overall health and well-being. Fiber is a health indicator that is included in our dietary guidelines and can also be found on product labels; But our research shows that we need to make sure that other valuable components of plant sources containing fiber (bioactives) are also recognized as valuable sources for human health.”

Key findings on bioactives in fiber sources

A recent study reviewed the existing literature on the health benefits of bioactives in plant sources of insoluble fiber. The researchers found that:

  • A variety of plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, contain insoluble dietary fiber, and each of these sources contains unique bioactives that support our health in different ways.
  • Favorable bioactives such as quercetin, resveratrol, catechin, anthocyanin, lutein, lycopene and beta-carotene were also found in a variety of plant foods that contain insoluble dietary fiber.
  • Plant sources containing bioactive substances and insoluble dietary fiber can be used to enhance the nutritional value of processed foods. By-products in food production, such as skins, seeds, pulp or pomace, are usually high in fiber and bioactive substances and offer unique nutritional value from sustainable sources.
  • Consumer research showed that the use of this fortification at low levels does not reduce consumer acceptance of the products.

Concepts and future directions

John-Willem van KlinkenOne of the authors of the study says: “The suggestion to consume more fruits and vegetables is not a new idea; But it is something that most people still struggle to do. “If we provide people with fiber-enriched products whose bioactive content is not neutralized, we can provide increased nutritional value.”

New research on the impact of bioactives on human health underscores the need for industry, academia, and government to join forces to support widespread awareness and education about bioactives in the food and health systems.

Madeleine TimmThe main author of the research says: “The results of the recent research and the collection of literature we reviewed can serve as a paradigm shift in the way the food and health industries, as well as consumers, look at insoluble dietary fiber and bioactive substances. “Continuing research and the widespread inclusion of bioactive substances in foods and supplements can have a real impact on human health.”

More research is needed in this field to identify preservation and optimization methods of extraction and processing of bioactive compounds.

Source link

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *