Natural Science Corporation of America
Copyright 1995 NSCA All rights reserved
NUTRI-FIBER
Ingrediants (ground flaxseed)
Fiber content by dry weight - 37%
insoluble - 23% (mainly lignin)
soluble - 14%
Nutritive content
protein - 36%
carbohydrate - 37%
fat - 13%
ash - 2%
Essential fatty acid content (percent of total fat content)
omega 3 -
omega 6 -
Purpose of Nutri-Fiber
Nutri-Fiber was designed to help combat some of the many health problems associated with eating a diet high in processed, refined foods. A 1992 survey from the Department of Agriculture found that most Americans get the majority of their calories from highly refined foods such as white flour products, white sugar and soda pop. This means that the average American is lacking in dietary fiber. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors typically consumed 40-50 grams of fiber daily, compared to the average of 15-20 grams daily for Americans (1). Lack of dietary fiber is associated with a myriad of chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, gallstones and ulcerative colitis to name a few (2 ). After living with and studying health patterns of tribal populations, researchers Burkitt and Trowell concluded that ALL diseases common to western civilized populations are mainly due to a lack of dietary fiber (3). Modern day diets differ drastically from the high fiber, nutrient dense diet of our ancestors (4).
Scientific data is extremely clear that some type of regular physical exercise is indispensable in the prevention of a variety of chronic degenerative diseases and adding years onto life (5). Fiber is to GI tract health, like regular exercise is to whole body health. Dietary fiber can actually "exercise" the smooth muscle of the GI tract. Regular exercise of GI smooth muscle means that food transit time and colon
motility will be appropriate. Obviously, poor colon motility is associated with constipation, which is associated with hemorrhoids and colon cancer (6). Proper small and large intestine motility is also important for proper food digestion, nutrient absorption and maintaining a balanced microflora (7). An extreme example of imbalanced microflora would be considered a GI infection. A more subtle form of microflora imbalance is a dysbiosis. Intestinal dysbiosis is now associated with a variety of health problems, including greater susceptibility to GI infections (8). Some of the symptoms which can be indicative of a dysbiosis are frequent indigestion, excess gas, bloating, abdominal cramping and pain (9).
Another important effect of dietary fiber on GI tract is its more direct effect on altering microflora composition. Although dietary fibers are not digested by our enzymes they can be metabolized by our intestinal bacterial enzymes. In fact dietary fiber would be considered "food" for intestinal microflora. A high fiber diet tends to promote growth of "good" or beneficial microflora such as lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria, while a diet low in fiber tends to allow "bad" bacteria to proliferate (10). When bad bacteria out number good bacteria a dysbiosis is considered to be present. Byproducts from bacterial metabolism of dietary fiber are considered important to GI health. Various types of fatty acids are produced including hydroxylated fatty acids and short chain fatty acids (propionic, acetic and butyric acids (11 ). The hydroxlyated fatty acids have an influence on water content of the stool while the short chain fatty acids have an impact on stool pH, thereby helping to maintain the growth of "good" colon microflora (11). One particular short chain fatty acid, butyric acid, has been extensively studied and shown to have important effects on colon health. Butyric acid is considered the main fuel source for colonocytes and has been clearly shown to have anticarcinogenic activity (12 ). Therefore colon butyric acid is important in preventing any type of colitis and colon cancer. Although butyric acid can be found in butter, the most effective way to increase colon butyric acid is to increase dietary fiber.
In short, there is no single substance more important for GI tract health than dietary fiber. Since the GI tract is the major portal of entry of both nutrients and toxins from the diet, when GI health is compromised it is likely that some other body system is ailing. The connection between dietary fiber, a healthy GI tract and therefore a healthy body cannot be overstated. Nutri-fiber was formulated to reflect all the latest scientific evidence regarding different types of dietary fiber and their health effects, but it is also formulated keeping in mind the important holistic connection between GI health and overall health.
Principles of Nutri-Fiber formula
o Nutri-fiber is made from ground flaxseed and is therefore both nutritive
and high in water soluble and insoluble fibers.
o Nutri-fiber is especially high in fiber-type, lignin - which has some
special health benefits.
o Flaxseed contains plant "lignans" which apparently have some specific
health benefits.
o Nutri-fiber is also a source of essential fats (fatty acids), known to be
extremely important for optimizing health (see Thera-Blend monogram)
o Nutri-fiber is easily added into the diet in its powder form:
- sprinkled on cereal
- mixed in with blended drinks
Possible application of Nutri-Fiber
o Useful supplement for people unwilling to change to a high fiber diet in
order to help prevent chronic degenerative diseases.
o Adjunctive dietary treatment for people at a high risk for cardiovascular
diseases, including those with high blood cholesterol.
o Useful adjunctive dietary treatment for those people with kidney or gallstones.
o Useful adjunctive treatment for those people with diabetes or gout.
o A helpful treatment for those with obesity or overfatness.
o An important part of treatment for many GI problems including: constipation, colitis, gastritis, diverticulosis, Chron's, GERDS, etc.
o Useful even as a supplemental source of essential fats (see Thera-Blend
monogram)
o Should be considered the fiber supplement of choice for women with high
estrogen related problems such as breast cancer (or high risk of-), endometrial cancer or PMS
o Anytime a fiber SUPPLEMENT is recommended water intake must be
INCREASED!
Understanding Fiber
Fiber is considered to be any polysaccharide which cannot be chemically broken down by our digestive enzymes. Most dietary fibers fit this chemical definition. Another plant component which acts as a fiber are lignans. lignans, like polysaccharide fibers are also found in plant cell walls (13). One of the highest known source of lignans is flaxseed. lignans appear to have some very special properties as will be described in more detail below.
In general any fiber known to date can be categorized as water soluble or water insoluble. Water soluble fibers are best studied for their ability to help in weight control, lower high blood cholesterol and help to stabilize blood glucose (14). Whereas water insoluble fibers are considered better bulking agents (i.e. are especially good at exercising GI smooth muscle) (15). Both types of fibers can be metabolized by GI microflora, but there are individual differences in the potencies of dietary fiber actions when specific fibers are studied.
