The myth about fiber

To dispel the myth that we need fiber in diet, we can simply go to the core of the scientific claims often used to support this belief – and break them down with facts and research that easily knock the traditional narrative on its head and say “hello!?”.

Both Dr. Paul Mason og Dr. Zoë Harcombe (and more with them) have challenged the traditional view that fiber is so-called essential for a healthy diet.

Dr. Paul Mason claims that fiber is not necessary for good health, and on the contrary, can aggravate digestive problems such as constipation and bloating. He refers to a study in which participants with chronic constipation were divided into groups with high, low and no fiber intake.

The results showed that the group that eliminated fiber completely, experienced a betydelig improvement in symptoms, while those who continued on high-fiber diets not got better.

He likes to talk about a traffic jam; that when it's really stuck, you're unlikely to send more cars into the cork to solve the problem?

More below the video…

Dr. Zoë Harcombe points out that there is no defined, scientific, daily need for fiber, and that many of the claimed health benefits of fiber can rather be attributed to Secondly, nutrients in fiber-rich foods, rather than the fiber itself. It's just "roughage» or as we in Norway would think «hedge and twig», and the body opposes it as we all know out in its entirety.

Both for better and for worse.

She further emphasizes that it is a fact that we do not need carbohydrates, and fiber is carbohydrates, and indigestible as such. So then you immediately think; why on earth would we need indigestible carbohydrates, when we don't need carbohydrates? The body invariably sends them straight back out, often with great discomfort?

Dr. Zoe Harcombe also emphasizes that some studies linking high fiber intake to better health are often weak. observational studies which cannot establish causal relationships. So-called observational studies are only meant to get ideas, create hypotheses, and THEN do the real studies.

More below the video…

Observational studies – is it science?

Even if I walk behind you on the sidewalk, it doesn't mean I'm following you, but it might look like this, as a observation. So banal is actually observational studies. Even if you get ideas that I am following you, you need to show that it is the case. You only have an idea, which is nicely called an hypothesis. Prove this ideas something?

No. But you can start researching whether it is true. This is an example of the fallacy post hoc ergo propter hoc – so the idea that because something happens after something else, there must be a causal relationship.

This fallacy is so typical because we humans tend to search for patterns og explain things in context, even when there is no real link between the events.

Both of these experts urge a critical assessment of the role of fiber in the diet, and recommend that individuals assess their own needs and responses to fiber intake. They agree that fiber is likely a problem, not a solution.

The myth of fiber and constipation

One of the most persistent myths is that fiber is necessary to prevent constipationBut studies suggest that high fiber intake can actually aggravate the problem.

A well-known study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology showed that participants with chronic idiopathic constipation experienced a significant improvement in symptoms after taking reduced or removed fiber from their diet.

Those who removed all fiber experienced complete symptom relief, while those who ate high amounts of fiber experienced worsening.

The myth about fiber and intestinal flora

It is often claimed that fiber is essential for a healthy gut flora because it acts as a “prebiotic” that nourishes the bacteria in the colon. However, Dr. Paul Mason points out that gut bacteria don’t necessarily need fiber to thrive.

Instead, animal foods, which contain complex proteins and fats, can provide the bacteria with enough substrates to produce the same short-chain fatty acids that fiber is purported to promote. He points out that many people with IBS or other intestinal problems often experience improvement when they eliminate fiber.

The myth about fiber and cholesterol

Another myth is that fiber lowers cholesterol and protects against cardiovascular disease. Observational studies (sigh, so-called observations again!), which often highlight this, fail to isolate fiber as a factor.

Dr. Zoë Harcombe explains that many of the purported benefits of fiber likely come from foods that are naturally rich in nutrients, rather than from the fiber itself.

Furthermore, she refers to research that indicates that High cholesterol levels are often wrongly demonized and does not necessarily need to be lowered.

The myth about fiber and cancer prevention

It has been claimed that fiber protects against colon cancer, but a comprehensive review from Cochrane Collaboration concluded that there is no evidence that fiber has any protective effect against colorectal cancer.

On the contrary, some types of fiber can be fermented in the intestine and form by-products that can be harmful for the mucous membrane.

Historical context and human biology

Evolutionarily speaking, humans have never needed any amount of fiber. This is not supported by either research or history.

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors consumed animal-based diets with very little fiber for periods of millions of years. The human digestive system is also optimally designed to break down animal protein and fat, not plant fibers that require fermentation to a greater extent – ​​a process more typical of ruminants, and animals with a cecum which is larger than the human useless appendix.

Summary

The fiber myth has been perpetuated by useless observational studies, correlations and industrial interestWhen looking at clinical data and evolutionary biology, there is no strong evidence that fiber is necessary, and in many cases it may be directly harmful for people with certain health challenges.

This is a myth that has persisted because it is politically correct and easy to promote, but it does not withstand a deep dive into science, like so much else in modern dietary history.

SOURCES

Photo: Shutterstock license

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