The “invisible” dietary fiber could make food healthier without interfering with the taste

Researchers have developed an “invisible fiber,” known as FiberX, that can add up to 20 percent more fiber to people’s meals without causing a detectable change in the food’s color, texture, or flavor. Fiber plays a vital role in the proper functioning of the body and maintenance of health, as it helps prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes and some cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, they are responsible for promoting intestinal motility and participating in stool composition.

The compound was developed in collaboration with the Microtec Engineering Group and promises to enrich the nutritional quality of foods. According to Associate Professor Asgar Farahnaky, staple and common foods in people’s diets can now contain extra fiber without any change in taste, texture or color, a major factor in the low acceptability of commercially available fiber supplements.

Scientists have managed to produce this novelty from starch, the energy reserve of plants, through the application of chemical treatments that have changed the molecular structure of starch in cassava, wheat and corn. These chemical reactions make starch less digestible, as well as natural fiber, which gives all the benefits already mentioned.

When performing taste tests with breads and cakes, the team found they could add between 10 and 20 percent more fiber to the food before people started noticing a difference. Laboratory tests showed that the chemical modification process was able to convert more than 80% of starch into dietary fiber.

Chemical-free fibers

Now the researchers will work to achieve the same result through physical or enzymatic methods, a method that is better for the environment and which will guarantee the information on the label that the supplement is “free of chemicals”.

Another interesting point for the team is the partnership established with the Fight Food Waste Cooperative, which aims to use residual starches and fibers as raw material for FiberX. Farahnaky sees great possibilities in using this technology: “The food industry will have access to large amounts of unseen dietary fiber at an affordable price to deliver fiber-rich foods to consumers.”

Post “Invisible” dietary fiber can make food healthier without affecting the flavor first appeared in Olhar Digital.

Source: Olhar Digital