Dietary fiber of fruits

All fruits and nuts contribute to dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is that part of plant material in the diet which is resistant to enzymatic digestion which h includes cellulose, noncellulosic polysaccharides such as hemicellulose, pectic substances, gums, mucilages and a non-carbohydrate component lignin.

Dietary fiber comes from the portion of plants that is not digested in the intestinal tract. The dietary fiber content of fruits ranges from 0.5 to 1.5% (fresh weight basis).

Dietary fiber plays an important role in relieving constipation by increasing water-holding capacity of feces. Its consumption is also linked to decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease, diverticulosis, and colon cancer.

Diets, deficient in dietary fiber will lead to a number of diseases such as constipation, hiatus hernia, appendicitis, diabetes, obesity, coronary heart diseases, gallstones, etc. Consumption of adequate amounts of dietary fiber reduces the risk of above-mentioned diseases.

Dietary fiber, although not always defined as such, has been consumed for centuries and is recognized for having health benefits. Soluble and insoluble fibers make up the two basic categories of dietary fiber.

Pectin and gum are water-soluble fibers found inside plant cells. Pectin has an effect in lowering the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Pectin is found in some fruits such as apples, pears, and citrus fruits.
Dietary fiber of fruits