Fiber is a type of food composed of carbohydrates that are not absorbed in our intestine. It is found in foods derived from plant products, such as vegetables, legumes, fruits and cereals.
Types of fiber
- Insoluble fiber
Made up of substances that retain little water and expand little, such as cellulose, lignin and starch. They provide solid volume to the feces, decrease intestinal transit time and intracolic pressure. It is found mainly in wheat bran, some vegetables and legumes, and practically in all whole grains.
- Soluble
Formed by components that capture a lot of water such as pectin, gums and mucilages. It produces a large amount of gas. It is found in the shells of the seeds of various species of plants of the genus plantago ovata, beans, beans, soybeans, spinach, peas, oats, barley, apple peel and nuts, among others.
Vegetables contain both kinds of fiber, but their proportion varies according to the type and degree of maturity. The more mature, the higher the concentration of insoluble fiber. A balanced diet should contain a similar proportion of both.
Why should I ingest an adequate amount of fiber in my diet as a colorectal patient?
The intake of an adequate amount of fiber in the diet has an effect on the consistency of the stool and the defecatory rhythm that allows us to act on various diseases that we treat in the colorectal surgery office, such as some types of constipation, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, anal fissure and certain pelvic floor disorders, among others.
What is the recommended daily fiber intake?
Between 25 and 35 grams per day.