Live longer through fiber

Fiber extends life

01/14/2015

Dietary fiber, according to the German Society of Nutrition (DGE) take over important functions in the digestive tract and have a positive effect on the metabolism. They carry the name because fiber is not digested by the body's own enzymes and thus pass through the digestive tract as a kind of ballast. A recent study by Chinese researchers has now shown that a high fiber content in the daily food intake associated with a significantly extended life expectancy.

Dietary fiber has many positive health effects and has a preventive effect on diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and colorectal cancer. The conclusion was that fiber also has a positive effect on overall mortality. However, according to the research team led by Professor Yong-Bing Xiang of the Shanghai Cancer Institute, there has been a lack of robust studies to date. In the trade magazine „American Journal of Epidemiology“ Now they have published the results of a meta-analysis, which states that increased fiber intake increases life expectancy.

At least 30 grams of fiber a day
The current meta-analysis is based on seventeen previous studies with a total of 982,411 participants and 67,260 deaths. Ten grams of increased dietary fiber intake per day resulted in a 10 percent reduction in relative mortality among study participants, the researchers report. The positive effect of dietary fiber on overall mortality is clearly demonstrated in the current study by the researchers. The daily food intake should therefore contain the highest possible fiber content. The DGE calls here „as a guideline for the daily intake at least 30 grams of fiber for adults.“ Many dietary fiber is, according to the German Nutrition Society „in whole grains, vegetables, potatoes, legumes and fruits.“ Their share of daily food intake should be correspondingly high. (Fp)