My dogs occasionally eat grass. They won't tell me why but perhaps they need the fiber. The act of eating indigestible things is
known as pica. Some children have eaten
calk, dirt, sand, or paper. If you eat
anything processed for more than one month then you might qualify for the
diagnosis of xylophagia (the consumption of wood) in the form of
cellulose. Just look on the nutritional
facts for some cheap products like hotdogs.
How in the world does a hotdog have fiber? The same may be true for things like shredded cheese, ice cream
and salad dressings.
While I would prefer to avoid eating trees, it may surprise
you that the consumption of cellulose is not a bad thing. Methylcellulose is a soluble fiber product
available as EZ Fiber (from bamboo cellulose).
There are other well know commercial fiber products that use
methylcellulose; however, they contain additives and artificial sweeteners. They may also contain maltodextrin which can
be made from wheat and contain gluten.
Because of its thickening properties, cellulose is used in
some sustained release prescription products.
While the food additive cellulose has no nutritional value the fiber
content is needed in our Standard American Diet.
When you eat unprocessed foods there are parts that are not
digested. The cellulose in corn is
evidently not digested. Fiber is a
natural part of foods known to be good for you and may be either soluble fiber,
insoluble fiber or a combination.
Soluble fiber such as the (EZ Fiber) turns to a gel, slows digestion and
absorbs bile and toxins in the gut.
Insoluble fiber found in carrots, celery, green beans, and green leafy
vegetables adds bulk to the stool and may help food pass more quickly.
Adequate fiber helps control blood sugar, and can decrease
your risk of heart disease and stroke.
It is also useful in diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and
hemorrhoids. The fiber goal is 20 to 30 grams of fiber per day. Healthy choices include chia seeds, psyllium
and ground flax seeds. Fiber PF is a
product with a combination of psyllium and flax seeds. It also contains nutrients to aid in healing
the intestinal tract. Fiber rich
vegetables include root vegetables, beans, peas, broccoli, brussel sprouts,
cabbage, and cauliflower. Fibrous
fruits are also helpful.
Stay Well!
