Where, oh where, art thou, Arabinoxylan?

I hate to admit it, but there actually is something good in wheat and grains but it’s not B vitamins, cellulose fiber, or the approving looks of your doctor or dietitian. It’s arabinoxylan, as well as amylose, the prebiotic fibers of wheat/grains that nourish microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. It’s ironic that all the fuss about fiber intake that was the big push for bran cereals is not the form of fiber that yields genuine benefits, at least anything beyond bulking up bowel movements. It’s the neglected prebiotic fibers like arabinoxylan that were the source of any health benefits. The average wheat/grain-consuming American obtains around 5-8 grams prebiotic fibers per day, of which around half are from wheat and grains, the remainder from vegetables and fruit (and reflecting the low intake of vegetables and fruit among average people who prefer foods like Coca Cola, French fries, and Cheetos). Eliminate wheat, rye, barley, corn, oats, millet, rice and other grains and prebiotic fiber intake drops to about 3-5 grams per day. We know with confidence that the ideal intake of prebiotic fibers for humans is 20 grams or more per day, preferably obtained from a variety of sources, as variety helps cultivate bacterial species diversity, i.e., a greater number of bacterial species that has been associated with better health. Non-diabetics, for instance, have greater species diversity than diabetics; slender people have greater species diversity tha...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Wheat Belly Lifestyle bowel flora fiber gluten grains microbiota resistant starch Source Type: blogs