SSS 2012-06-29

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You know what fiber¹'s good for—to keep things moving smoothly² downstairs. But it's not just for staying regular. Fiber can boost the number of beneficial bacteria in your gut³, too. That's according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition.

 

Researchers gave 20 men a daily snack bar to munch⁴ on. The bars had 21 grams of either polydextrose or soluble⁵ corn fiber—two fibers⁶ commonly added to cereal, pancake mixes and breakfast bars. After two weeks researchers took stool samples, and sequenced the DNA⁷ of bacteria living in them.

 

Turns out that extra fiber upped populations of Faecalibacterium—an anti-inflammatory bug⁸ that may protect the gut against inflammatory bowel⁹ syndrome¹⁰. Fiber also increased the numbers of lactobacillus—the beneficial microbe in yogurt and probiotics. The researchers say these friendly bacteria may thrive when you eat fiber because you're supplying the bugs¹¹ with what they prefer to eat.

 

Most Americans get only about 15 grams of fiber a day—half the recommended value. So instead of focusing on probiotics, to add new bacteria to your gut, the researchers say why not eat prebiotics like fiber, to feed the good guys already living there?

 

Thanks for the minute for Scientific Americans 60 second Science, I am Christopher Intagliata

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