Gum Guru Guest Blogger: Dr. Mar Nieto, Principal Scientist

Clinical and epidemiological studies on the health benefits of fiber, both soluble, and insoluble fiber, surge through the 1990s and have continued to the present. These studies include alleviating constipation and improving digestive and colon health, lowering cholesterol, improving glucose response of diabetics, promoting satiety and weight loss, boosting the immune system, and others. In January of 2005, FDA released a new set of Dietary Guidelines that revamped the previously standard Food Pyramid to include 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day. It is estimated that on average Americans only ingest 15 grams of fiber per day, leaving at least 10 g per day deficit per person which translates to a huge potential for growth of the food fiber industry. With US population at 309 million, according to the 2010 census, this means a fiber deficit in our diet of ~6.8 million pounds per day or 2.5 trillion pounds per year, which realistically could be augmented mainly by consumption of a variety of foods such as fruits and vegetables, cereals, root crops, seaweeds, etc., but a significant amount from the consumption of fiber-fortified foods.

 Leave a comment for me and learn more about the specific fibers and their health benefits.