Nutrients Needed by the Human Body--Dietary Fiber

Throughout the development history of dietary fiber, people have always believed that this crude fiber has no benefit to the body. In addition, dietary fiber itself cannot be digested and absorbed, and was once considered a "non-nutritional substance". In the 1990s, with the in-depth development of nutrition and related sciences, people gradually discovered that dietary fiber has physiological effects in inhibiting fat absorption, promoting intestinal health, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, etc. In 1991, the World Health Organization officially listed dietary fiber as the seventh largest nutritional element after protein, fat, water, minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins at the Geneva Conference, recognizing its important role in human health. At the same time, people are encouraged to increase the proportion of dietary fiber in their daily diet.

Dietary fiber is divided into two categories: soluble dietary fiber (hemicellulose, pectin, gum, etc.) and insoluble dietary fiber (cellulose, lignin, certain hemicellulose).

Physiological functions of dietary fiber.

1. Enhance the feeling of satiety;

2. Prevent and treat constipation;

3. Regulate blood sugar;

4. Lower blood lipids;

5. Detoxifying.

As the seventh largest nutrient, dietary fiber has been known to more and more people, and foods rich in dietary fiber have almost become synonymous with healthy foods. Even so, only a small number of people eat the recommended amount of dietary fiber every day. The World Health Organization recommends a daily dietary fiber intake of 25-35 grams for adults, but in fact, dietary fiber intake in almost all regions around the world is below the recommended level.

Dietary fiber is mainly found in whole grains, vegetables and fruits.  Especially the elderly whose gastrointestinal motility slows down and those who are prone to constipation must increase their intake of foods rich in dietary fiber. Looking at domestic and foreign markets, consumer demand for high-fiber foods is still strong, which will further promote the growth and innovation of the dietary fiber industry.

Dietary fiber products have grown from scratch in China, from niche to mass, and have maintained strong growth. This is driven by demand and the inevitable path of market development. However, looking at the Chinese dietary fiber market, new products are emerging in an endless stream and product homogeneity is becoming increasingly prominent. New innovations are urgently needed. For example, product raw materials should be diversified and should not just stay at the level of water-soluble dietary fiber; the ingredients should not be single, they are should be composite combinations. Ingredient suppliers should also explores other dietary fiber categories to bring differentiated new choices to consumers. In daily life, common dietary fiber comes from vegetables, nuts, whole grains and beans. Ingredient suppliers at home and abroad also provide various types of fiber ingredients, such as resistant dextrin, polydextrose, fructooligosaccharide, etc., which are currently used in beverages, meal replacements, biscuits and other products to improve the dietary fiber content of products.

With the development of living standards and the improvement of health awareness, products based on dietary fiber are increasing. At present, the application fields of dietary fiber include meat food processing, baked goods, dairy products, beverages, health foods and baby foods. People with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or people with high fasting blood sugar and blood lipids also need to increase their dietary fiber intake!