Interesting Reseach Links Vegetable Fiber with Immunity

[Blood Sugar 101]

Though research has discredited the idea that eating fiber prevents cancer, there is some interesting research that suggests that fiber regulates the amount of short chain fatty acids in the gut and this in turn affects the microbes that colonize the gut, and ultimate, the immune system.

The Science Daily article below includes a long list of cites. Diet And Intestinal Bacteria Linked To Healthier Immune Systems

This gives us all another very good reason to include fibrous fresh vegetables and perhaps psyllium, if needed, in our diets. The degree to which the digestive system can become plugged up on a low carb diet is one of the few negatives. It is a sign that something isn't quite right and fiber alleviates it.

Given the high preponderance of autoimmune disease, especially thyroid, among people who are overweight, this issue is probably more important for dieters than other people.

[fawn]

I've been reading a great deal about butyric acid lately Jenny....

It's all very interesting and much more in depth than just fiber cleans the colon. Organic acids, bacteria, fermentation......all a very important component to our good health.

It is said that digestion is 70% of the immune system...this is the explanation isn't it!?

[Blood Sugar 101]

Originally Posted by fawn

I've been reading a great deal about butyric acid lately Jenny....

It's all very interesting and much more in depth than just fiber cleans the colon. Organic acids, bacteria, fermentation......all a very important component to our good health.

It is said that digestion is 70% of the immune system...this is the explanation isn't it!?

This probably is. I had read a very interesting book a few years ago about the way that bacteria colonize the gut in babies and how the immune system is actually shaped in infancy by the specific bacteria it is exposed to.

So many of the explanations for things are oversimplified--I just blogged about the mistaken idea that antioxidants keep us from "rusting" when it looks like now they also keep us from burning glucose.

So the idea that fiber "cleans us out" was an oversimplified mistake, but the way it interacts with the gut flora probably does explain a lot.

[fawn]

So the idea that fiber "cleans us out" was an oversimplified mistake, but the way it interacts with the gut flora probably does explain a lot.

Now isn't that the truth? It's either all or nothing sometimes and our bodies are not that black and white......there's a heck of a lot of grey in there too!

[BABSY]

what about flaxmeal?

[hummingbird11]

more excellent "proof" that low-carb/high-fiber veggie are indeed, healthy for us; thanks for posting!

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by BABSY

what about flaxmeal?

it is practically zero-carb due to it's high-fiber content

[fawn]

babsy, flax is a fabulous functional food.....I grind my own seeds though because the oil in pre-ground flax can be rancid when purchased.

[Blood Sugar 101]

Originally Posted by fawn

babsy, flax is a fabulous functional food.....I grind my own seeds though because the oil in pre-ground flax can be rancid when purchased.

Have you had this problem with Bob's Red Mill? I check the dates when I buy it, put it in the freezer after I buy it and make small batches of flax cereal. It doesn't have that rancid taste at all.

[2big4mysize]

the oil suposedly starts to go the minute it is exposed to air even with the antioxidents in the flax.

it so so much easier just to freeze the seeds and then have a designated coffee grineder for them.

Bloodsugar101 have you ever compared fresh ground seeds to the already ground stuff? I find there is less "fibers" in the freshly ground seeds then in the prepackaged already ground stuff. Some times I wonder if some of that fiber is part of the plant attatched to the seeds.

[Blood Sugar 101]

I haven't gone into this in detail because flax seeds aren't high on my list of things I eat since eating them too often gives me a hormonal imbalance and mood problem. I don't have immune issues, fortunately.