Food and nutrition.pdf

78 Nutrientsincrease in the mass and health of intestinal Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteriumpopulations.Vegetable GumsVegetable gum fibre supplements are relatively new to the market.Often sold as a powder, vegetable gum fibers dissolve easily with noaftertaste. They are effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome(Parisi, 2002)Jverification needed] Examples of vegetable gum fibers are guargum (example brand Benefiber reformulated to wheat dextrin in 2006)and acacia gum.'Fibre IntakeCurrent recommendations from the United States National Academyof Sciences, Institute of Medicine, suggest that adults should consume 20-35 grams of dietary fibre per day, but the average American's daily intakeof dietary fibre is only 12-18 grams.The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends a minimumof 20-35 glday for a healthy adult depending on calorie intake (e.g., a 2000cal/8400 kJ diet should include 25 g of fibre per day). The ADA'srecommendation for children is that intake should equal age in years plus5 glday (e.g., a 4 year old should consume 9 g/day). No guidelines haveyet been established for the elderly or very ill. Patients with currentconstipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain should see a physician.Certain bulking agents are not commonly recommended with theprescription of opioids because the slow transit time mixed with largerstools may lead to severe constipation, pain, or obstruction.The British Nutrition Foundation has recommended a minimum fibreintake of 12-24 g/day for healthy adultsWaterAbout 70% of the non-fat mass of the human body is made of water.To function properly, the body requires between one and seven liters ofwater per day to avoid dehydration; the precise amount depends on thelevel of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factorsWith physicalexertion and heat exposure, water loss will increase and daily fluid needsmay increase as well.It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy people,although some experts assert that 8-10 glasses of water (approximately 2liters) daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration. The notionthat a person should consume eight glasses of water per day cannot betraced back to a scientific source. The effect of water intake on weightloss and on constipation is also still unclear Original recommendation for