JOANNE SLAVIN, ABBY KLOSTERBUER,

HOLLY WILLIS

Consumption of carbohydrates and dietary fiber protects against obesity (Slavin, 2005). Examining the relationship between dietary fiber intake and body weight, however, is difficult due to the struggle to define dietary fiber and agree on recommended intake levels.Legumes, such as kidney beans and peas, are a good source of dietary fiber, but are consumed infrequently.

In 2002, the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) published definitions for fiber (DRIs, 2002). Dietary fiber consists of nondigestible carbohydrates and lignin that are intrinsic and intact in plants. Functional fiber describes the isola…


Table 1. Dietary Fiber Content of Foods (g/serving)



Table 2. Common Fibers and Their Predominant Sources

Figure 1. Mechanisms that indicate how dietary fiber intake affects body weight.

Table 3. Fibers Found to Decrease Energy Intake.

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