Does Fiber Prevent Calories From Being Absorbed?

Calorie absorption, or food absorption, is a term that describes the passage of food nutrients from your small intestine to your bloodstream. Absorption follows a process called digestion, which breaks your food down into pieces small enough to make absorption possible. Fiber is an indigestible form of carbohydrate that doesn’t get broken down and doesn’t interfere with food or calorie absorption.

Food Absorption Basics

Absorption takes place in the lining of your small intestine. In adults, this part of the digestive tract is roughly 1.5 to 2 inches wide and measures about 22 feet when stretched to its full length. Your intestinal lining contains numerous folds, which in turn are covered by little projections called villi. Each villi projection is covered by even smaller projections called microvilli. In combination, your small intestine’s folds, villi and microvilli provide an extensive surface area for food absorption. Specialized cells within this surface area pull in digested nutrients and deposit them in your bloodstream.

Fiber and Its Effects

Calories in a Slice of Whole-Grain Bread

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Fiber comes from an assortment of plant-based foods in human diets, including fruits, beans, whole grains and some vegetables. Fiber that comes from within plant cells is soluble in water; types of this soluble fiber include substances called gum and pectin. Fiber that comes from the walls of plant cells does not dissolve in water; types of the insoluble fiber include lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. When soluble fiber passes through your system, it takes on a gel-like consistency and helps your body control its levels of blood glucose and cholesterol 2. When insoluble fiber passes through your system, it improves the speed of digestion and adds bulk to your stool 2.

Reduced Calorie Intake

Consumption of high-fiber foods can lead to an indirect decrease in the amount of calories available to your body, MayoClinic.com notes. When you eat high-fiber foods, you typically need to spend a considerable amount of time chewing them. This extended chewing time gives you extra time to recognize signs that your stomach is full. In turn, recognition of these signs can reduce your chances of overeating and taking on unnecessary calories. In addition, the fiber in food can increase the physical size of your meal and make you feel full for longer periods of time even when your actual calorie intake decreases.

Considerations

Mangoes & Fiber

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A number of conditions can reduce your normal ability to absorb nutrients or calories from your food. Most Americans consume a little more than one-third of the fiber recommended for good health, according to Colorado State University. Specific fiber recommendations vary with both age and gender. Consult your doctor for more information on fiber and the factors involved in calorie absorption.