Got Gas? – Might Be From The Fiber

Sorry about the title.  I know gas is not a terribly pleasant subject to read about or discuss, and in fact just the word is pretty horrifying.  But GAS takes up less title space (and will probably get more google hits) than Abdominal Bloating, Distention and Discomfort.   So…. now that I’ve got your attention… We’re here to talk about foods with added fiber today.

What’s the deal with fiber lately?  It seems like it’s popping up in some pretty unexpected places.  We all know it’s something we should eat more of, but unfortunately, most of us don’t get anywhere near the recommended 30 grams of fiber each day.  In fact, the average intake is only around 10-15 grams per day for most of us.

To help inch us closer to our goal, food manufacturers have started adding fiber to anything and everything.  We used to have to drink a gritty orange drink to get some extra fiber, but now it’s in yogurt, cottage cheese, breakfast bars, and even some beverages.  So does it matter where or what form your fiber is in?  Or is all fiber the same?

What is fiber?

Fiber, also known as roughage, is the part of plant food that is not digestible.  Therefore it passes though our GI tract, rather than getting absorbed by our body.  There are two types of naturally occurring fiber, and both types are in all plant foods in varying amounts. Soluble fiber absorbs water and forms a gel inside our GI tract.  It tends to slow down our digestive process a bit, and helps to keep us feeling full longer.  Soluble fiber also helps to control blood sugar and it can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol.   Insoluble fiber does not absorb water, and has more of a laxative effect.  Fiber is naturally found in all plant foods like whole-wheat products, oats, beans, fruits and vegetables.

 

So what about the fiber in my cottage cheese?

In an effort to boost fiber in many popular foods that are not naturally good sources of fiber, manufacturers often add inulin.  It’s a tasteless starch that can either be derived from plants, or made in a lab.  Because our bodies don’t have the enzymes to break down inulin, it’s not digestible, and can be classified as a fiber.  To find out if there is inulin in your “high fiber” food check the ingredients label.

 

 

Inulin is also known as:

Beta (2-1) fructans

Chicory Root Extract

Chicory Inulin

Dahlia Extract

Dahlia Inulin

Long-chain Oligosaccharides

Prebiotic

 

While inulin can have some health benefits, it’s not quite as beneficial as naturally occurring fiber. Inulin won’t help with weight loss, because it doesn’t make you feel full like naturally occurring fiber does. It also doesn’t help to manage blood sugar, and has less of an effect on cholesterol.  From a nutritionist’s standpoint, our major gripe is that foods that are fiber-enhanced with inulin, can carry health claims that are really misleading.  It really doesn’t matter how much “fiber” you add to that cookie, granola bar or juice, it’s still not a health food.

 

Another major drawback of foods with added fiber from inulin that many are not aware of is the potential for gas, bloating and stomach cramps. Inulin is a prebiotic, which means it functions as food for the healthy bacteria that live in our intestinal tract.  While prebiotics are good because they help our healthy bacteria to flourish, the downside is that as the bacteria break down the inulin, lots of gas (CO2) is left behind, all at one time, and many people are really sensitive to it.

The bottom line on fiber

You’ll get the most health benefits from naturally occurring fiber, so aim for about 30 grams each day by eating cereals with at least five grams of fiber per serving, and bread with at least two grams of fiber per slice.  When eating grain products, skip the white rice and go for whole grains like quinoa or farro instead.  Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day – each serving (one average piece or about ¾ cup cut up) has about five grams of fiber.

Finally, eating foods with added fiber is certainly better than not eating any fiber at all.  If you use foods that are supplemented with added fiber from inulin, make sure you don’t overdo them, especially if you experience any severe GI discomfort (AKA gas or bloating) a few hours after eating them.

 

 

How do you get your fiber?

Eat well!