The word food can be divided into three distinct parts-natural, artificial, and synthetic. Natural food is any material consumed to provide nutrition to an organism naturally. Natural food is generally of plant, animal, or fungi origin, and contains all necessary nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or minerals required by the body. Artificial food on the other hand, is composed of man-made materials, most often made from high levels of sugar, salt, or other preservatives.
While natural food may contain the appropriate nutrients for health, artificial food may do so only in a greatly diluted state. Artificial food has no real nutritional value but merely exists as a convenience or an inexpensive option. In addition, most artificial food contains carbohydrates which are not only hard to digest but also highly inefficient sources of energy. This means that carbohydrates should form a significant part of every dietary fibre; otherwise, it’s a waste. One of the most important dietary fibres to include in a well-balanced diet is soluble fibre found in fruits and vegetables.
Soluble fibre provides a large amount of energy and helps regulate the body’s sugar and lipid levels. Because it dissolves easily in water and does not form any solid blockage, it makes up a major component of all foods eaten by people everywhere. Unlike simple carbohydrates, which are made up mostly of simple sugars, soluble fibre is completely bio-available – it is instantly available for absorption by the body. Its presence in food helps make up for the scarcity of energy derived from food and the subsequent use of that energy.