High fibre diet

[andrewlee]

I have been told that one of the downsides of eating a diet containing plenty of nuts, seeds and fruit (fresh and dried) is that it can all pass through the body before all the nutrients can be absorbed.   Is this true, and if so, is there any thing that can be taken to extract the goodness of the food more quickly?

[morg_monster]

hm i've not heard that before. but I figure, if you have a low fibre diet with little fruit and veg etc - then there isn't much nutrients there to be absorbed to start with!?!  But with a high fibre diet you're eating a lot of really good healthy food, so even if there is a bit of a reduction in the nutrients absorbed - ultimately you're still getting more into your body that with the low fibre diet.  All I can think of to change this would be vitamins, but if you have a healthy diet there is no need for these.   I have heard that with a high fibre diet as the passage of food through the GI tract speeds up, the body adapts to more efficiently deal with the food. I think ultimately, the body will always take what it needs from your food, so I wouldn't worry too much.

i definitely prefer the benefits of a high fibre diet anyway (no hanging around on the loo... sorry)

[Gevs1966]

No it is not true. Whoever told you that knows nothing about human biology.

[Guinevere]

I agree with Morg and Gevs- sounds like nonsense.  If our bodies were that bad at absorbing nutrients I don't think we would have lasted this long!  Having said that, if you eat nothing but fruit you may find you'll be 'going' a bit too regularly!