Rhubarb is a high-fibre food, which means that it is a digestion super star. Fibre exclusively comes from plants, as plants need fiber for structural support. Animals have bones and muscles to help them keep their shape, so fibre is not a significant part of their composition.
Increasing our dietary intake of plants in comparison to animal-based foods means an increase in our fibre intake. Makes sense, right? Countries with the most food processing and highest percentage of animal food intake have the lowest consumption of dietary fibre – as little as 10-15 grams per day, whereas some cultures average daily intakes as high as 75-100 grams! Low-fibre diets have been associated with constipation, gastrointestinal disorders, diverticulosis, and colon cancer, while a high-fibre diets (or at least sufficient fibre-diets) may very well work to prevent these problems.
FIBRE FOR HEALTHY DIGESTION
So much of our nourishment depends on the healthy passage of food through our digestive tract. Without fibre it is impossible for digestion to take place in a balanced way. With imbalanced digestion comes the risk of poor nutrient absorption which leads to compromised metabolism and overall health.
The risk of most chronic diseases is lowest when whole plant foods, like a simple serving of rhubarb, are plentiful in the diet. Ideally, one should aim for at least 35 grams a day from a variety of sources, and with a healthy, whole-foods diet, this is an easy goal to reach.
OTHER PROTECTIVE BENEFITS
In addition to the fibre and therefore digestion benefits of rhubarb, it also contains anthocyanins, the flavonoid that gives our favourite red and purple produce their hue -- think berries, red onions, plums, and grapes to name a few.
And, just a half cup of cooked rhubarb also provides us with more than 1/3 of our recommended daily intake of vitamin K -- vital for our blood and bone health, as well as calcium and vitamin C.
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