Dietary fiber (generally known as roughage) is basically derived from plants including various vegetables and fruits which are not digestible in human body. It is classified as soluble or insoluble fiber.
The soluble fiber with high viscosity and prebiotic properties; is able to undergo fermentation process in the colon (of large intestine) producing gases and some active substances.
The insoluble fiber has inactive chemical characteristics while having the ability of water absorption during the digestion process and enabling easier elimination of fecal matters from the body.
Chemical structure of dietary fiber is made up non-starch polysaccharide including cellulose, inulin, lignin, chitins, pectins and oligosaccharide, etc.
Relatively all plants contain both soluble and insoluble fibers with different proportions; depending on various types of plants, each kind of fiber accounts for some specific amount.
For more please read: Functions of Dietary Fiber
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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