CELL FOOD
The inner workings of
Fibre
The history of what is good and what is not good for you from a medical perspective has definitely had its misleading moments over the course of time This is especially true in regard to nutrition. One medical claim that misled people for nearly two centuries is that fibre is not important for maintaining your health. From the early 1800s, this essential nutrient—although not everyone agrees it’s essential or a nutrient—was termed crude fibre because it was indigestible: no energy or health benefits provided. Even the word “crude” hints at something negative about fibre. Nothing could be further from the nutritional truth.
Fibre Man
Since the 1970s, it has been Dr. Denis Burkitt who is primarily associated with bringing the healthy facts about fibre to light1. Based on his observations working as a missionary surgeon in Africa, Burkitt noted that his patients had high-fibre intakes and did not suffer from modern health problems common to the West. A prime example is coronary heart disease, which was pretty much nonexistent in Uganda where Burkitt was
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based. It is now the leading cause of death worldwide. The observations and writings of Dr. Burkitt brought focus to the idea that diets low in fibre also increase the risk of many other health problems. Today, in countries where a “Western Diet” of mostly processed or fast foods with high amounts of fat, salt and sugar is popular, most people get less than half of their daily recommended 25 grams of fibre for women and 38 grams for men. Dr. Burkitt’s patients were averaging close to 100 mg of fibre daily by primarily eating plants. Of course, fibre is only one of many beneficial nutrients found in plantbased food, providing countless natural nutrients that work at keeping a body healthy. In fact, the most recent research and studies offer a truly modern medical perspective: plant-based food may be the best medicine you can give your body.2
