Dietary fiber.
Undigestible fibres and starches found particularly in cereals, fruits and vegetables which, though not nutritious, help the movement of food down the digestive tract, and contribute to easy passage of stools by keeping them bulky and soft.
A coarse, bulky food, high in fiber, which is nondigestible and stimulates bowel movement: e.g.. cellulose.
A general term for dietary fiber; that part of food which cannot be digested in the gastrointestinal tract, although it can be metabolized in the colon by the micro-organisms there. Roughage falls into four groups; cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignins and pectins, found in unrefined foods such as wholemeal cereals and flour, root vegetables, nuts and fruit. It has long been known to affect bowel function, probably because of its capacity to hold water in a gel-like form. It plays an important role in prevention of constipation, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), appendicitis, diabetes mellitus and cancer of the colon. At present, many western diets do not contain enough roughage.
The term bestowed upon indigestible carbohydrates that pass through the body without serving as nourishment, eluding assimilation. Predominantly composed of cellulose, the fibrous substance constituting a substantial portion of the rigid compositions found in vegetables and cereal-based sustenance. Roughage undergoes minimal digestion through bacterial fermentation within the intestines, providing an inconsequential contribution to the dietary intake. Its paramount value lies in its capacity to stimulate peristaltic contractions and facilitate the elimination of waste from the bowels. Noteworthy medical evidence suggests a recent surge in bowel-related ailments attributable to the increasing refinement of food. As a result, there has been a substantial endeavor to raise awareness about the inclusion of a higher quantity of roughage in one’s dietary regimen.
The fibrous, indigestible component of food made up of cellulose.