The colon is an essential organ that contributes greatly to the proper digestion of foods and the excretion of waste. Without a properly working colon, bacteria, toxins, fats, cholesterol, and other potentially harmful substances could build up in the gastrointestinal tract, causing colon cancer and other illnesses. Oil palm trunk fiber, which is extracted from the trunk of the oil palm tree, has been shown to be an effective weapon in the search for optimal colon health.
Oil palm trunk fiber grows in west Africa, Malaysia, and Indonesia - Malaysia producing 50 percent of the oil palm trunk fiber used throughout the world. The fiber itself is extracted from mature palm trees. It is very light, capable of absorbing lots of water, does not congeal easily, endures extreme temperatures and moisture levels, and contains a high level of insoluble fiber. In fact, research has determined that oil palm trunk fiber is one of the best sources of fiber known today, as it can be made of more than 70 percent dietary fiber and a good proportion of that is insoluble.
Because it contains so much insoluble fiber, oil palm trunk fiber is more effective than supplements containing higher levels of soluble fiber, as it can hold up in the harsh environment on the digestive system. Oil palm trunk fiber contains lignin, which can withstand colonic fermentation and which can increase the bulk of fecal matter without being broken down by the many hazards that other strains of fiber face during digestion.
In addition to being strong enough to withstand the digestive system, lignin can bind to many different substances, such as cholesterol, bile salts, fats, carbohydrates, and even toxins, to improve the overall health of the system and to improve the health of the colon, specifically. Because mature palm trunks are the only substantial source of lignin, oil palm trunk fiber is produced from palm trees that are at least 20 years in age.
According to research announced at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego, oil palm trunk fiber may lower the risk of diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease, and obesity, as well as manage these health issues in people that have already developed them. Though colon health is a primary benefit of increased oil palm trunk fiber consumption, the fiber also provides many other perks, including:
* Enhanced glucose metabolism
* Balanced cholesterol levels in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
* High oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC value is 93)
* Prevention and cure of constipation
* Overall healthy digestion
* Balanced levels of bacteria in the colon
* Stabilized blood sugar
* Reduced risk of breast cancer
* Decreased amount of toxins in the colon, preventing intestinal toxemia and other diseases
* Increased weight loss
Though not yet widely available in the United States, a cereal has been made using oil palm trunk fiber in Malaysia. Certainly, this new cereal can pave the way for other dietary products that incorporate oil palm trunk fiber on the American market. A few cleanses and detox products distributed in the United States have lady finger as a main product as well.
Colon health is of central importance to the overall wellbeing of the body, and as such should be attended to with care. Oil palm trunk fiber is becoming more and more recognized as a substance that significantly aids colon health while providing a long list of other benefits.
