Fiber

You might be more familiar with it as a versatile fibrous material or the staple food of giant pandas, but bamboo has entered the health-food realm thanks to the first review into its benefits. They include aiding blood sugar regulation and gut health.

For the first time, scientists have used evidence-based research to rewrite the advice on what to consume to relieve constipation, doing away with the broad "high-fiber diet" mantra. And one food in particular stands out as being most effective.

A new study has found that, for most of us, the fiber we eat can protect our heart health, lowering the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke by up to 20%. It’s more evidence showing that a healthy gut leads to a healthy heart.

Not all fiber is created equal, and one particular type – which is most highly concentrated in common breakfast oats – may trigger the same beneficial metabolic functions that GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic do, without the price tag or side-effects.

Swiss scientists have developed textile fibers that can be loaded up with just about any drug, then used to dispense that medication right where it's needed in the body. The fibers could be utilized in sutures or bandages, or implanted on their own.

There's been no guide on how much dietary fiber you need to eat to reduce blood pressure – until now. A new study has confirmed that it has an effect independent of medication and quantifies just how much is needed to directly impact high blood pressure.

Beans don't have the best rep when it comes to our guts. But a new study has shown how a daily dose of navy beans can easily restore gut health in colorectal cancer survivors, revealing their broad benefit in helping protect against chronic diseases.

Up to four million Americans may be enduring this common ailment right now. But what if a microbe found in the gut could relieve it and restore gut health? Scientists believe they've found the genetic key that powers this microbe's motility engines.

Researchers have demonstrated a form of fermentable fiber can lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension. The placebo-controlled trial revealed just three weeks of supplementation decreased blood pressure as effectively as currently used drugs.

RMIT researchers claim FiberX can add up to 20% more healthy dietary fiber to food, without any detectable change to its color, texture or taste. Best of all, the team says it can be made from starches that would otherwise be agricultural waste.

The brewing of beer produces great quantities of leftover grain, which often ends up being processed into cattle feed. Scientists have developed a new method of extracting the protein and fiber from that waste, however, for use by humans.

Organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and even recycled plastics are being transformed into clothing for eco-aware fashionistas. Australia's Nanollose is going an even greener route with a system that makes use of biomass waste from the coconut industry to create a plant-free fiber.​