Category: Dietary fiber

As a synthetic soluble fiber providing only 1 kcal/g, polydextrose is a valuable food additive engineered to replace fats and sugars in lower-calorie products. This makes polydextrose a highly effective and popular fat replacer for creating healthier versions of common foods while maintaining desirable sensory qualities.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 1981, polydextrose is indeed classified as a soluble fiber. But does polydextrose count as fiber in the same way as whole-food sources? The answer lies in its unique classification as a functional fiber, a key distinction for understanding its role in nutrition.

With only about 1 kcal per gram, polydextrose is widely recognized as a low-calorie alternative to sugar, leading many to ask: how much sugar is in polydextrose? The answer is very little, as this soluble fiber contains only a minimal percentage of residual sugars and is largely resistant to digestion in the human body.

The human body does not naturally produce the enzyme required to break down cellulose, explaining why we often see corn kernels pass through our digestive system undigested. The idea that some people can digest corn cellulose better than others is a common misconception rooted in varying digestive efficiency, not an enzymatic ability that we possess.

Apples are a significant source of pectin, with the pulp containing approximately 15–20% of this soluble fiber. But is apple pectin healthy and does it live up to its reputation as a powerful dietary supplement, or are its touted benefits merely anecdotal?

According to the USDA, a single cup of raw asparagus contains almost 3 grams of dietary fiber. For many, this high fiber content is a key reason why is asparagus hard to digest, potentially leading to discomfort, bloating, and gas, particularly for those unaccustomed to it.

While the average American consumes only around 15 grams of fiber daily, the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for dietary fiber is significantly higher for most adults. Understanding your specific DRI is crucial for maintaining digestive health, managing weight, and lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

According to digestive health experts, it's very common to see undigested food particles like sesame seeds in your stool. The tough outer hull of sesame seeds, composed of cellulose, is resistant to human digestive enzymes, making it difficult for the body to break them down entirely if not chewed thoroughly or processed.

Over the past decade, numerous studies have explored the untapped nutritional potential of peanut skins, finding them to be surprisingly rich in bioactive compounds. The question of whether is the skin on a peanut good for you is increasingly being answered with a resounding yes, highlighting its rich antioxidant and fiber content.

According to nutritional experts, only about 5% of the American population meets the recommended daily amount of fiber. This significant fiber gap makes the question, "Is vegetable pulp good for you?" particularly relevant, as the fibrous byproduct of juicing is packed with dietary fiber and other valuable nutrients.