Fiber

Fiber

FIBER.
Fiber is showing up in all sorts of food because, well, companies have figured out how to put it there. Have you noticed? I mean look at items like yogurt, ice cream, juice… and even foods that have always had fiber (cereals, breads, pasta) now have “more fiber!” and the boldly worded claims on the front of boxes are right there to let you know. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pro-fiber, but not all fibers are created equal. The fiber that companies are adding to most foods are isolated fibers- like inulin, maltodextrin, oat fiber, and polydextrose. The problem: the ads and labels imply that those fibers are equal to the intact, naturally occurring fiber in foods. Fiber can provide numerous health benefits (Ex. Insoluble fiber lowers LDL cholesterol), but inulin, polydextrose, and maltodextrin are soluble and do not lower cholesterol (more healh benefits below). If people think they can meet their daily fiber goal (DRI for women- 25grams; men-38grams) by eating 5 fiber-fortified yogurts then they might be fooled into thinking they’re consuming a diet that has more health benefits than it actually dose… or maybe they think it’s “good” to have two servings of ice cream instead of one b/c it has a bright label that says “something something FIBER! Something something”. I’m not saying it’s bad to eat fiber-fortified-yogurt, unless it starts to become an excuse to eat fiber-rich cookies instead of bran cereal… and god forbid people reduce their intake of fruit and vegetables even lower than it already is… God forbid, KELLY! (j/j) Additionally, inulin and polydextrose have a downside in large doses. Inulin may cause gas or other GI problems at doses above 15g/day. Fun fact: Foods that contain more than 15 grams of polydextrose per serving are required to warn consumers that “sensitive individuals may experience a laxative effect from excess consumption of this product” A.K.A. “enjoy it, but you might poop your pants. Thanks for...