Want To Avoid Disease And Disability In Old Age? It's Possible With Dietary Fiber

Mothers, who usually take charge of the family's meals, should consider having dietary fiber into the family's plates. A study has found that consuming the right amount of fiber can help people enjoy healthy aging.

It was found out that disability and disease can be avoided in old age though eating dietary fiber from bread, cereal and fruits. Scientists from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research reviewed data from more than 1,600 adults who were 50 years and older.

Fiber And Successful Aging

Science Daily reported that it was fiber intake that had the most contribution to "successful aging" among the adults. "Out of all the variables that we looked at, fiber intake -- which is a type of carbohydrate that the body can't digest -- had the strongest influence," said lead author Associate Professor Bamini Gopinath, PhD.

The other factors looked into were total carbohydrate intake, glycemic intake, glycemic load and sugar intake. Successful aging was said to mean "as including an absence of disability, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, respiratory symptoms, and chronic diseases including cancer, coronary artery disease, and stroke."

Fiber Lowers Health Risks, Can Be Included In Children's Diet

"Essentially, we found that those who had the highest intake of fiber or total fiber actually had an almost 80 percent greater likelihood of living a long and healthy life over a 10-year follow-up," said Gopinath, as per Daily Mail. Gopinath said that the adults with high fiber intake had lesser chances of incurring hypertension, diabetes, dementia, depression and functional disability.

Now that the benefits of fiber have been bared, how can mothers help their children start right and eat fiber? In US News, Dr. Kadakkal Radhakrishnan offered ways to make sure fiber can be incorporated in the diet of children.

Mothers can make smoothies by blending fruits and introduce vegetable purees in pasta sauces. Fiber can be part of sandwiches if whole-grain bread is used.

Is fiber part of your meals? Write your comments below.