膳食纤维是人体不可缺少的营养素,排在维生素、蛋白质等六大营养素之后,称为“第七营养素”。它不带来任何热量,但是,却对防治多种疾病有重要作用,如便秘、高脂血症、糖尿病、高血压、冠心病、中风、肥胖、肠癌和老年痴呆等。蔬菜和粗粮中均有大量的膳食纤维。但是,如果我们想通过饮食降脂、降糖或者改善便秘、减轻体重,则应当分清膳食纤维的种类。 Dietary fiber is an indispensable nutrient in human body, and it is ranked as the “seventh nutrient” after the six major nutrients such as vitamins and proteins. It does not bring any calories, but it plays an important role in prevention and treatment of various diseases such as constipation, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, obesity, bowel cancer and senile dementia. There are a lot of dietary fiber in vegetables and coarse grains. However, if we want to reduce body weight by lowering lipid levels, lowering blood sugar or improving constipation, we should distinguish the types of dietary fiber.