Dietary fiber has long been known to be highly beneficial for gastrointestinal health, exerting a regulatory effect on digestive processes such as absorption, transit time, and stool formation, as well as having important microbial effects.
Unfortunately, modern diets in the Western industrialized world are notoriously low in fiber, with this deficiency linked to an array of gut and metabolic diseases. Some consumer research suggests the public is aware of the benefits of fiber, and that most people believe they consume enough. However, national consumption surveys indicate that only about 5% of the population meets recommendations, and inadequate intake of fiber has been called a public health concern.
But now, a new trend on social media may be changing the way people view and consume fiber. Called “Fibermaxxing,” it is being promoted by wellness content creators and being enthusiastically endorsed by some dietitians as “good for digestion, stable energy, and even a happier mood.” Other influencers suggest it can help with weight loss. A recent article in The New York Times quotes a 25-year-old wellness creator whose videos of herself consuming large quantities of fiber in the form of food such as chia seed puddings have garnered more than 10 million views.
