Dietary Fibers and their Importance

Dietary fibers are also known as crude fibers and these are made of polysachharide. Importance of dietary fibers in body physiology, specially in relation to consumption of meat is discussed below:

Carbohydrate Content of Meat

Meat provides calories from proteins, fats and limited quantities of carbohydrates. It's more vital contributions to diets are derived from protein, B vitamins, certain minerals and essential fatty acids. Carbohydrates constitute less than one per cent of the weight of meat, most of which is present as glycogen and lactic acid.

The liver is the main storage site of glycogen. Meats are poor source of carbohydrates except those processed products to which sugars or other carbohydrates have been added. The lack of carbohydrates content in meat and meat products induces constipation and particularly for old age group. Now-a-days the introduction of dietary fiber in diet and even in meat product fornlulation is being practiced. Besides reducing the cost, it has various added advantages because of its physiological properties. Some of the physiological properties of dietary fiber along with related effects in body system have been discussed below.

Physiological Properties of Fibers

Dietary fiber includes a variety of polysaccharides. About 15-20g /day of dietary fibers is recommended for health. Different physiological properties are:

Water absorption: Water absorption contributes to bulk forming laxative effect. It influences the transit time of food mass through the digestive tract and further absorption of nutrients.

Binding effects: Binding effect of fibers influences blood lipid levels through their capacity to bind cholesterol and bile salts and prevent their absorption. Excessive dietary fiber has undesirable effect of binding minerals such as iron, zinc or calcium thus preventing needed absorption.

Clinical Association Between Dietary Fiber and Various Diseases

Because of diverse physiological function dietary fibers are useful in various diseases. The effects of fibers in various diseases are listed below:

Use of dietary fibre during disease condition