Dietary Fibre (NSP). Flashcards
What is excretion?
After food has been digested, absorbed and metabolized, waste products are removed from the body by the process of excretion.
How is liquid waste removed from the body?
Liquid waste is processed by the kidneys and excreted as urine.
How is solid waste removed from the body?
Solid waste is removed as faeces from the large intestine.
Where are faeces formed?
Faeces are formed in the large intestine.
How do the solid residues pass along the intestine?
The solid residues pass along the intestine by the process of peristalsis.
What is peristalsis?
The regular muscular contractions of the intestinal wall.
How do the faces pass through the rectum with minimal effort?
The faeces then pass through the rectum with minimal effort as long as they are soft and bulky.
What is NSP?
Non-starch polysaccharide is an indigestible carbohydrate as human lack the enzymes to digest them.
What are refined foods?
Refined foods are foods that have been processed meaning the NSP content has been removed.
Give four examples of refined foods.
- White flour, white bread, white sugar.
- Instant puddings and desserts.
- White (polished) rice.
- Instant potato.
What can also be a major factor in the causing of intestinal disorders?
Lack of exercise is also a major factor in causing intestinal disorders, as exercising helps keep the intestines active.
What are 5 sources of NSP?
- Wholegrain cereals (as bran) e.g. wheat, rice.
- Oats, wholegrain bread, breakfast cereals.
- Wholegrain pasta, crispbreads.
- Fruits, especially skins of apples, and plums.
- Vegetables, especially leafy vegetables, celery, and potato skins.
If faeces are not removed quickly and regularly they may cause several problems such as:
- Constipation.
- Diverticular disease.
- Haemorrhoids (piles) and hernias.
What are hemorrhoids (piles) and hernias?
These may be caused by the increased effort required to remove hard faces in constipation suffers.
What is used by people who suffer from constipation?
Laxatives are used by those that suffer from constipation.
What are the two symptoms of constipation?
Symptoms include abdominal discomfort and feeling of being ill.
What is constipation?
With constipation, the faeces are very hard and move slowly through the intestine and a lot of effort is required to remove them.
What may lead to diverticular disease?
The extra strain put on the muscular wall of the intestine through constipation may lead to diverticular disease.
What is the treatment for diverticular disease?
Treatment is a high-fibre diet.
What causes diverticular disease?
The increased pressure in the intestine leads to pouches of the bowl lining being forced through the intestinal wall if the pouches become inflamed and this causes discomfort.
What are the 9 functions of NSP?
- They add bulk.
- They absorb water.
- They make faeces soft.
- They make faeces easy to expel.
- They stimulate peristalsis.
- They bind toxins.
- They bind cholesterol and lower cholesterol levels.
- They give a feeling of fullness (satiety).
- They help prevent constipation, colon cancer, diverticular disease, hemorrhoids and hernias.
