Fiber, found in legumes, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, is an important component of a healthy diet: getting enough of it may protect against type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.. This is reported by scientists from the University of Gothenburg..

A Western diet high in fats, sugars and low in fiber increases the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, weight gain and diabetes, they say..

Scientists conducted a study on mice, during which the experimental animals were fed low-fiber foods.

The rodents from the first study, after only 3-7 days on a low-fiber diet, had problems with the protective lining of the colon: it became more vulnerable and permeable, and bacteria could penetrate through it.

Mice from the second study, fed low-fiber foods, had significantly thinner colons.. They also had an unhealthy bacterial imbalance in their gut.. These changes contribute to weight gain, inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes, experts say..

aspect. net.