Özet:

Dietary fiber is a plant food component that passes through the human digestive system without undergoing any major changes. It is important in terms of removing harmful compounds accumulated in the intestine, lowering cholesterol by binding bile acids, controlling blood sugar levels and being prebiotic. Dietary fiber prevents constipation by increasing the stool volume in intestines, while reducing the risk of colon cancer by shortening the intestinal transit time. It is generally divided into two sub-groups as water-soluble and insoluble fibers. Water soluble fibers include pectin, gums and mucilage while the latter includes cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin components. Dietary fibers are mainly found in vegetables and fruits, as well as in grains. Factors such as an increase in interest on healthy nutrition, the development of technology, and people's awareness have increased studies on dietary fiber, and it may be expected that it will become one of the indispensable products in many areas of the food industry with an increase in the importance of functional foods in the future. In this study, the properties of dietary fibers and their importance for human health are reviewed.

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