Graham--remarks about fiber

[Guest guest]

I'm reading Graham's The 80/10/10 Diet...as I'm experimenting with raw veganism for myself (not for my kids--I'd like them to be raw vegans, but, that would be a serious challenge!). I came to this very interesting passage on fiber:

" Before doctors truly understood the function of fiber, it used to be described as a 'scrub brush' for the intestines. The insoluble fibers in grains (raw, sprouted, or cooked), however, are extremely harsh on our delicate digestive tracts. Since they do not absorb water, their edges and points remain sharp. These fibers literally scrape at the delicate walls of our intestines, irritating them and lacerating them as if we had eaten ground glass. In response to this abrasion, the mucous membrane that protects the intestinal wall thickens, which makes the fiber less irritating but also reduces the body's ability to absorb nutrients.

" This irritation of the intestines and colon is what gives bran its reputation for encouraging bowel function. The body senses an irritant and attempts to expel it as rapidly as possible, along with whatever else is in the colon at the time. Anyone who uses bran fiber for this purpose has noticed that after a short time they must increase the quantity of bran that they use in order to get the same effect. The more the body increases the thickness of its mucous membrane to protect itself from irritation, the more bran must be ingested. It is an endless cycle, similar to that of all substance abuse.

" Reduced absorption, impeded assimilation, adhesion development, scar-tissue formation, leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, spastic colon, colon blockages, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and other digestive maladies are often the outcome of consuming insufficient fiber or fiber that is too harsh. The soft, soluble fibers found in fruits and vegetables are necessary for optimum digestive and colon function. "

While the rest of the book has references here and there, I don't see one for this section. Does anyone know if this characterization of grain-based insoluble fiber is correct? ? You're our resident biologist...

If I were to just judge this based on my experience and that of my constipated 4-year-old, I would say that if what he's saying is correct, it would explain a lot. We got rid of her abdominal pain when we reduced the insoluble fiber in her diet and switched from whole grains to white grains (not that Graham would approve of those!). (And I used to get abdominal pain myself after eating a lot of whole grains, even though I loved whole grains and ate them a lot in those days.) The more I read the more I wonder if we should be pulling all the grains out of her diet. Though I can't imagine how I would accomplish that! I'm thinking (semi-seriously) of trying hypnosis to convince her to at least try fruit smoothies (she'll eat several different fruits, and sometimes will eat a meal of just fruit, but a smoothie would mean I could sneak some greens into her also).

Bonnie