Following a review of global fiber intake results, the BENEO-Institute has found that only six countries out of 27 analyzed(1) are consuming the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended daily fiber intake of at least 25g of total dietary fibers from wholegrain cereals, fruits and vegetables per day(2). With this in mind, Hélène Alexiou, nutrition communication manager from the BENEO-Institute discusses how food and drink producers can help consumers bridge this fiber gap.
Fantastic fiber? Relatively recently has the importance of fiber filtered into the public consciousness. In fact, up until the 1970s, fiber was considered by most in the food industry as not useful or “just roughage.” It took time for nutritional scientists to find evidence of the beneficial link of dietary fiber intake to bowel function for its importance to finally be recognized. It is now acknowledged – by the medical community, academics, industry and consumers-- that dietary fibers bring forth a number of positive physiological effects. A large amount of evidence shows that a high consumption of dietary fibers is associated with: