Passing it on...something new I learned today about Fiber

Please, Don’t Pass the Bamboo

Imagine sitting down to a bowl of hi-fiber breakfast cereal. Splash on some milk and spoon up the bamboo. Whoops, unless you’re a panda, something is wrong with this picture.

Yes, bamboo is a common ingredient in breakfast cereals, pasta, shredded cheese, sauces, mustard, ketchup, beverages, batters and bakery goods. (If, perchance, you doubt my word, do a Google search for: bamboo fiber food). Bamboo is also used in pricy fiber supplements.

Why bamboo? Because, it is a cheap byproduct of the bamboo industry. Yes, fiber occurs in grains, fruits, vegetables and beans, but only in minuscule amounts. Therefore, any fiber extracted from wheat or apples is pricey.

Unlike human foods which are rich in protein, carbohydrates, fats and micronutrients, bamboo is primarily fiber (cellulose). Furthermore, as its producers brag, bamboo is inert, non-caloric and tasteless! But, not all fiber is created the same. For use as an additive, it would be prohibitively expensive to commercially extract fiber from our common foods. Thus, today’s fiber is typically a byproduct from the bamboo and cotton industry. For your own information, look in your pantry and count the number of products, energy products and supplements that include “fiber” as an ingredient. Now imagine, all the chemicals used in cotton production and in the manufacturing of bamboo.



The American Association of Cereal Chemists defines fiber as "the edible parts of plants or similar carbohydrates (italics mine) resistant to digestion and absorption in the human small intestine."

The US Food and Drug Administration considers bamboo a "vegetable fiber" and that's why it shows up in your shredded cheese.

It's correct that fiber is important to your health. It helps bulk up your stool and supports bowel regularity. This reduces the risk of chronic health problems, especially colon cancer. Fiber also helps lower blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

As a health conscious person, therefore, you value fiber.

However, as a savvy health conscious person, you get ample fiber from a sumptuous whole foods diet. You pass on inert, tasteless bamboo. (You minimize highly processed foods because they're denatured by extreme temperatures and pressure and adulterated with chemical colorants and additives).

If, however, your bowels are a little sluggish or you feel the need for additional fiber, then as a kindness to yourself, favor yummy fiber. Leafy greens and beans are good fiber sources as are berries, apples and all dried fruits.

Indeed, every whole, unprocessed food contains fiber. If you wish a fiber supplement, there's apple pectin or psyllium husks. Additionally, numerous herbs and essential oils support bowel regularity.

There are better options to fiber fortified breakfast cereal. Try a bowl of oatmeal! A 100 gram serving or regular or old fashioned rolled oats, provides a respectable 10 grams of dietary fiber.

Yes, Quaker's Fortified Oats provide more fiber than regular oats, but pass on the manipulated stuff. Why support a manufacturer who laces your oats with industrial byproducts and then insults your intelligence with devious marketing spin?

Also, instant or pre-cooked oats are less tasty and healthful. That’s because each additional processing step compromises the oats' fatty acids.

I purchase organic, thick rolled oats from a market with a quick turnover. Or, for an even more flavorful porridge, I buy steel cut oats (also called Irish or Scottish oats); they're less processed--and therefore more flavorful--than flaked or rolled oats.

Good oats have a pleasant oaty aroma (versus a cardboard-like, flat or rancid aroma). They look vibrant and have a uniform shape and color. Besides price, an advantage of buying from bulk bins is you that you can rely upon your eyes and nose to help discern a quality product.