6 Ways Dietary Fiber Fuels Beneficial Bacteria & Keeps Us Regular
The world is acutely aware that having a healthy gut supports smooth digestion, but a lesser few consider the comprehensive impact of nourishing your gut daily (think immune function, mental well-being, natural detoxification pathways, and even skin health). Today, maintaining a diverse and abundant microbiome of "good" bacteria is a well-known part of maintaining whole-body health.
But how, specifically, are you supporting your gut health? Many consider probiotics and fermented foods to be the pinnacle of GI health, but those of us who have struggled with digestive issues, mood, and a suboptimal immune response know firsthand that promoting a healthy gut takes more effort and intention than drinking a daily kombucha. Enter: fiber.
6 ways fiber promotes gut health:
1. Supports a diverse & abundant microbiome.
Like a luxury car, the colonies of microbes in your gut need plenty of premium-grade "fuel" (i.e., prebiotic fibers) to help them grow and thrive.
2. Promotes SCFA production.
Certain fibers (such as key prebiotic sources) promote gut health and resilience by increasing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production12 (unique bioactive gut metabolites and a form of postbiotics). Generated from fiber fermentation, SCFAs provide an energy source for gut and colon cells, modulate intestinal pH and immune response23, and help maintain gut-lining integrity.
3. Bolsters gut barrier function.
One type of SCFA, called butyrate, is especially effective in sustaining the integrity and resilience of the gut lining, which covers significant surface area inside our bodies and is the next line of defense after our skin. According to a 2018 Advances in Nutrition review, butyrate helps support intestinal barrier function34 and mucosal immunity (more on that in a bit).
Consuming guar bean fiber, the leading organic fiber featured in mindbodygreen's organic fiber potency+ formula, has been shown to support butyrate-producing bacteria—which, in turn, can help strengthen the integrity and resilience of the gut lining.*
4. Aids digestion & gut motility.
Insoluble fiber creates the "bulk" of stool. It passes through the digestive tract undigested, which promotes gut motility45—i.e., the movement of food through the digestive system and out of the body. On the other hand, soluble fiber dissolves easily in water and retains it, helping control and slow the digestive process (such as the absorption of certain nutrients).
Consuming enough of both types of fiber is absolutely essential to maintain a healthy digestive system and keep things "moving along."
5. Supports healthy bowel movements.
Speaking of evacuations… In addition to promoting gut motility, fiber also promotes healthy stool formation by regulating intestinal microbiota56. In one study published by the Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology, guar bean fiber was found to help increase the frequency and quality of bowel movements and reduce colonic transit time.*
In another study from Nutrition Research, green kiwifruit (another premium plant fiber in mbg's organic fiber potency+) was found to significantly increase daily bowel movements67.* Whether you're upping your daily fiber intake with fiber-rich plant foods or a quality supplement (both are useful and synergistic strategies), it's clear that getting sufficient fiber promotes regularity.*
6. Promotes gut immunity.
According to a 2021 Nutrients review, 70% to 80% of immune cells78 reside in the GI tract. That's right, the majority of your immune system is located in your gut! Intestinal microbiota (those good bugs), the gut epithelial lining (a physical barrier), and the local mucosal immune system all work together throughout the day to bolster the body's immune response.
All dietary fiber (but especially prebiotics) and probiotics are integral in promoting gut-immune health by helping maintain gut lining function and integrity, promoting SCFA production, and supporting gut microbiome abundance and diversity.
The takeaway.
Increasing your dietary fiber intake is one of the best things you can do to promote overall gut health, immune response, and regularity.
In addition to packing your plate full of fiber-rich foods, a high-quality daily fiber supplement like mbg's organic fiber potency+ is an easy way to help ensure that you and your family are bridging the fiber gap each and every day. Featuring a USDA-certified organic, vegan blend of soluble, insoluble, and prebiotic plant fibers from clean and science-backed sources (i.e., organic guar bean, mushrooms, and green kiwifruit), plus a targeted probiotic strain, this plant-powered formula helps nourish your gut barrier and microbiome, support digestion, and promote regularity.*
Morgan Chamberlain is a supplement editor at mindbodygreen. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in magazine journalism and a minor in nutrition. Chamberlain believes in taking small steps to improve your well-being—whether that means eating more plant-based foods, checking in with a therapist weekly, or spending quality time with your closest friends. When she isn’t typing away furiously at her keyboard, you can find her cooking in the kitchen, hanging outside, or doing a vinyasa flow.
7 Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8153313/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11906-020-01125-2
- https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/9/1/21/4849000?login=false
- https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(16)31187-X/fulltext
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/9/2170
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531715000718?via%3Dihub
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/3/886