📚 FIBRE IN NUTRITION

Fibres are complex carbohydrates that the body cannot digest, yet plays a numerable medicinal role. Typical examples: CELLULOSE, HEMICELLULOSE, PECTIN, MUCILAGE, AND the GUM. Only RUMINANTS can digest fibres due to the presence of an enzyme CALLED CELLULASE. This is why ruminants have four (4) chamber stomach including: RUMEN, RETICULUM, OMACIUM, and ABOMACIUM

And this is why they chew the curd i.e., the ability to regurgitate.

On the other hand, higher animals are not ruminants, otherwise CALLED MONOGASTRIC ANIMALS. They don’t chew the curd, hence, they lack an enzyme called CELLULASE. Hence, they cannot digest fibres. However, there are some fibres that are digestible by the body’s intestinal enzymes. THESE INCLUDE: PECTIN and GUMS.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF FIBRES

a. It prevents constipation

b. Eliminates bacteria toxins

c. It decreases GIT cancers

d. It improves glucose tolerance

e. It reduces plasma cholesterol level

f. Satiety value

g. It can be used for weight management

ADVERSE EFFECTS of FIBRES 

Adverse effects of the food feeds went to the extent of ingesting large quantities of rice bran to achieve all the benefits of fibres. This has led to several complications. IN GENERAL, harmful effects mostly observed in people consuming large quantities of dietary fibres includes:

* Digestion and absorption of protein are adversely affected.

* The intestinal absorption of certain minerals e.g. calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are reduced.

* Intestinal bacteria ferments some fibres causing flatulence and often discomfort.

SOURCES OF  DIETARY FIBRES

Fruits, leafy vegetables, whole grain, rice bran. The ideal way to increase fibre intake is to reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates. In a nutshell, the strict vegetarians consume more fibres than non-vegetarians (e.g. Sri Lanka and some part of India). People who eat just vegetables are called vegans or strict vegetarians.