Fiber, Dietary, refers to a variety of edible plant materials that normally pass undigested through the body. Fiber, sometimes called roughage, helps in the healthy functioning of the stomach and intestines. Good sources of fiber include beans, bran, fruits, cabbage and other leafy vegetables, nuts, and whole-grain bread.
Dietary fibers are mainly complex carbohydrates, such as cellulose and pectin. These substances regulate the time it takes for food to empty from the stomach and pass through the intestines. Fiber increases the weight of stools (solid waste matter) by absorbing and retaining water. The increase in stool bulk can help relieve constipation and diarrhea.
Researchers believe that a high-fiber diet can help prevent diverticulosis, a common disorder of the colon (part of the large intestine). In this disorder, small pouches called diverticula stick out along the surface of the colon. Diverticulosis may lead to diverticulitis, a disease in which the pouches become inflamed and cause pain, infection, and bleeding. Diverticula often develop when waste material becomes hard and compact and cannot move easily through the colon. The resulting pressure can force the inner membrane of the colon to bulge out through the organ’s lining. Fiber softens waste material and thus prevents diverticula from forming. Evidence also indicates that fruits and vegetables, which are good sources of fiber in the diet, may reduce the risk of cancer of the colon.
See also Diverticulitis.
