Post by Tim Wescott on Mar 21, 2004 17:14:18 GMT -5
Oat Bran:
Oat bran contains a large amount of soluble fiber. It became popular when food companies caught wind of scientific studies connecting soluable fiber intake with lowering ones cholestrol values. This cholestrol lowering effect is benefical for individuals prone to heart disease.
Fiber is a loose term denoting the substanse in plant food that are not digested by humans. Not all fiber has similar effects. For example wheat bran has little cholestrol lowering ability but acts on the colon to speed transit time of foods and reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. Oat bran, along with pectin (found in apples) has greater cholestrol lowering effects.
While many processed foods list oat bran as one ingredient, beware of other cholestrol elevating and medically harmful products that also may be present. These include whole eggs and saturated tropical fats such as palm, palm kernal and coconut oils. These have all been shown to elevate blood cholestrol levels thereby increasing the risk of heart diease. A healthier and cheaper method of increasing soluble fiber would be the inclusion of oats, oat bran and selected fruits and vegatables.
Most clinical reports are concerned with the influence of the lack of fiber in the diet on health and disease. The question of whether excessive fiber might be harmful remains to be answered. People who have marginal or inadequate intakes of vitamins and minerals may be likely to develop nutrient deficiencies on high fiber diets. A good guideline to go by is the 25 grams per day recommended by the American Cancer Society.
Oat bran contains a large amount of soluble fiber. It became popular when food companies caught wind of scientific studies connecting soluable fiber intake with lowering ones cholestrol values. This cholestrol lowering effect is benefical for individuals prone to heart disease.
Fiber is a loose term denoting the substanse in plant food that are not digested by humans. Not all fiber has similar effects. For example wheat bran has little cholestrol lowering ability but acts on the colon to speed transit time of foods and reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. Oat bran, along with pectin (found in apples) has greater cholestrol lowering effects.
While many processed foods list oat bran as one ingredient, beware of other cholestrol elevating and medically harmful products that also may be present. These include whole eggs and saturated tropical fats such as palm, palm kernal and coconut oils. These have all been shown to elevate blood cholestrol levels thereby increasing the risk of heart diease. A healthier and cheaper method of increasing soluble fiber would be the inclusion of oats, oat bran and selected fruits and vegatables.
Most clinical reports are concerned with the influence of the lack of fiber in the diet on health and disease. The question of whether excessive fiber might be harmful remains to be answered. People who have marginal or inadequate intakes of vitamins and minerals may be likely to develop nutrient deficiencies on high fiber diets. A good guideline to go by is the 25 grams per day recommended by the American Cancer Society.