Re: What foods aren't digested well by the body?
08/28/03 11:00 AM
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Heather
Reged: 12/09/02
Posts: 7799
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Hi - What you're talking about are foods that are high in insoluble fiber. Fiber (both soluble and insoluble) is non-digestible, and passes through the body intact. It is broken down by chewing, digestive acids, etc. but the fiber component of foods is not itself digested. That's why you'll see kernel corn, peas, etc. pass through intact sometimes.
This doesn't mean you're not getting the nutrition from these foods, by the way. The other elements in them (the carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins/minerals, etc.) are digested, and you're absorbing the calories and nutrients. The insoluble fiber itself is a GI stimulant, and increases the rate of transit for these foods (which is why they can trigger IBS attacks).
What's interesting here is that the toughest foods for the body to actually digest are saturated fats and red meat/dairy proteins - and they have zero fiber. They're also triggers, but they're safe to avoid completely, unlike insoluble fiber foods which are very healthy and need to be eaten - but carefully.
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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