Free Republic

For many people, an enjoyable summer staple food is a scoop of their favorite ice cream. What they may not know is that this creamy treat often contains refined dietary fibers, such as guar gum, that could have negative effects on intestinal health, according to researchers. Guar gum is a common food additive used for its thickening and stabilizing characteristics in ice cream, processed cheeses, bakery products, salad dressings, beverages and more. However, a recent study discovered that ultra-processed diets containing guar gum showed an increased likelihood of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in an animal model. To determine the...

A study shows that a diet containing suitable amounts of inulin can influence even the length and other macroscopic characteristics of the intestines. This beneficial action is possible only in the presence of bacteria that digest the fiber, however. Positive alterations in immunity are among the healthy interactions. "In mice that ingested a 10% inulin diet, the gut was larger than in mice that consumed only insoluble fiber [cellulose]. When we analyzed their intestinal tissue, we found more epithelial stem cell proliferation in the animals fed an inulin-rich diet. The epithelium is the layer that separates gut contents from other...