Fiber Facts

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 197
Word Count: 269

Monday, August 18th

Is it me or does everything on the grocery store shelves seem to claim it has added fiber? At a recent barbecue I noticed that the skinny cow ice cream sandwich label even claimed to have added fiber.....what?! Obviously this is a marketing move to make consumers feel better about the sugar-laden foods they eat, but this can be very confusing if you do not understand that all fibers are not created equal. Our friends at Nutrition Action Healthletter recently wrote an article explaining the facts on added fiber to various foods.

Here is the deal.....many foods (ice-cream, snack bars, cookies, energy drinks) are being labeled "high-fiber" because they are infused with isolated fibers, like inulin, maltodextrin, and polydextrose. As long as there is some fiber content in a pre-packaged food, it can be labeled as "high-fiber" or "good source of fiber". These fibers definitely do NOT give you the same benefits as intact fibers like lower blood sugar, lower cholesterol and a healthier heart. They may, in fact, leave you with unpleasant abdominal discomfort if you ingest too much. Marketers are hoping that consumers do not read the label with a careful eye and see that the fibers in these foods are really fillers and not very nutritious.

The bottom line is to get the fiber (soluble and insoluble) our bodies need, we need to stick with eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats and beans. Enjoy sweets in moderation and don't count on the fiber in baked goods or drinks to give you the solid nutrition you need.

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