Dirtary fiber can be used as a preventive or treatment for various kinds of health conditions. these are health conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract such as constipation, haemorrhoids, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome and 

gallstones. Diseases that affect the cardiovascular system, artheriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension etc. 

 

The third group of diseases are the metabolic diseases like diabetes and syndrome X. There is also the cancer group, colon 

cancer and breast cancer especially. When there is. a longstanding constipation, the colon becomes a huge reservoire of acidic wastes that actually increase the acid that can lead to cancer development in other parts of-the body. Finally; we have other health conditions such as obesity and hypercholesterolemia.

 

 As I promised last week Thursday; today we shall be looking at the effect of dietary fiber on conditions such as constipation and general health of the colon, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and blood cholesterol regulation. 

 

Colon health 

Insoluble, fermentable fibers are fermented by the normal bacterial flora found in the colon to produce short chain fatty acids. These are butyric, propionic and acetic acids. Butyric acid is a primary fuel for the cells of the colon to carry out their functions. It also helps to keep the colon healthy by destroying the unfriendly and destructive bacteria that may accompany food and water into the intestines. By this action, fibers help to boost the immunity of the body. 

 

Not only that, insoluble and non-fermentable fiber absorb water in the colon and increase the bulk of the fecal matter and cleanse the colon. With this bulk, they increase the transit time of the passage of stools out of the anus. These fibers, by this action, maintain the health and integrity of the colon, prevent constipation and other diseases of the colon and reduce the risk of developing colon cancer.

 

Management of type 2 diabetes 

Soluble, viscous fibers playa significant role in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. In the stomach, these fibers delay the rate at which food is emptied into the small intestine for absorption. This delay; in turn causes a delay in absorption of glucose by reducing the amount released into the small intestine per unit time. Glucose absorption occurs in little amounts spread over a longer period and eliminates the glucose surge and insulin spikes that lead to insulin resistance. Dietary fiber also increases insulin sensitivity and function. 

 

Prevention ofhypercholesterolemia

Soluble, viscous fibers combine with bile salts (acids) to form complexes which prevents the bile salts from being reab- sorbed back to the liver. Bile salts function in the proper digestion of fats and they are produced in the liver from cholesterol. Preventing their reabsorption, means that the liver will have to continually utilize cholesterol (especially the LDL cholesterol) to produce more bile salts. This lowers the concentration of total and lOL cholesterol in the blood. One of the fatty acids produced by fermentation of insoluble fiber by the friendly bacteria in the colon is propionic acid, as we found out earlier. This propionic acid inhibits an enzyme known as HMG-CoA reductase in the liver. This enzyme is responsible for cholesterol production in the liver. As this enzyme gets inhibited, cholesterol level in the blood drops. 

Also, soluble fiber directly reduces the absorption of cholesterol. 

 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) 

A lot of studies by different researchers all over the world have proved that dietary fiber prevents incidences of cardiovascular disease. Soluble fiber in particular has been found to lower total and LDL cholesterol concentration. The mechanism of action is thought to be by preventing the re-absorption of bile acids that have formed complxes with the fiber. 

The result of this js that, there is increased uptake of lOL cholesterol for production of bile acids by the liver. 

 

This, as I explained earlier, leads to a decrease in blood cho-lesterol concentration. With normal levels of cholesterol in circulation, none gets, deposited on the walls of the arteries to form artheriosclerotic plaques, which may blockthe blood vessel and cause cardiovascular disease. Some researchers have said that, "A diet high in water soluble fiber, is inverselyassociated with the risk of CVD. To prevent cardiovascular disease therefore, a diet high in water soluble fiber is highly recommended. 

 

Obesity 

 Fiber, not being digested does not provide calories to the body. Water soluble fiber in the stomach absorbs water and increases the bulk of the stomach contents. This gives a feeling of fullness and satiety which together with slowing down the movement of food out of the stomach to the intestines, lead to a reduction of food eaten. It is recommended that fiber foods be chewed for a long time before swallowing. This gives a signal to the brain that you have eaten enough 

 

God bless.