How Roughage Works

We all know that roughage works to keep us ‘regular’, but how many of us know just how it works? Stop here if you don’t want to know. But I promise it’s interesting, if nothing else.

Two cell biologists from the Medical College of Georgia have found out the mechanism. As roughage passes down the gastrointestinal tract, it rubs against the inside wall and tears the outer covering of some of the epithelial cells lining it. This allows the mucus in the cells to escape, and help act as a lubricant for the intestinal contents as they pass down the tract.

Don’t feel alarmed that you are killing off cells by eating fiber foods. The cells have a self-repair system that fixes the injury. And the epithelial cells live less than a week, anyway, and are quickly replaced.

Let’s hope this additional knowledge will encourage you to eat plenty of fiber foods, as they carry a host of benefits: ‘regularity’, as noted, which also discourages hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and straining, which may precipitate hernia; cholesterol lowering; reduced risk of some cancers; weight control; and more.