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There has been a lot of buzz lately about the benefits of dietary fiber and the need to eat more. So, what is dietary fiber anyways? Dietary fiber is a complex carbohydrate that is not completely digested in your body. Unlike other food components such as fats, proteins or other carbohydrates that get completely broken down and absorbed in your body, dietary fiber passes relatively intact through your stomach, small intestine, colon and out of your body. So it might seem like fiber does not do much, but it has several important roles in maintaining health.

Why eat fiber? While fiber has no nutritional value, it can have a big impact on health, lowering the risk for certain cancers, lowering cholesterol and minimizing the complications of diabetes. Also, it may aid with appetite control since it expands after you eat it and is more filling. In general, good sources of fiber include many fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole wheat breads, and fiber rich cereals.

Insoluble & Soluble Fibers

Fiber can be classified into two categories: soluble and insoluble. The two categories differ because of their ability to bond with water molecules. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel substance which slows digestion. Soluble fiber (such as gums & pectin) molecules are able to pick up water as they pass through the digestive system. It is then broken down in the colon by bacterial flora. Research shows that soluble fiber lowers cholesterol and delays glucose absorption.

Insoluble fiber(such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) does not dissolve in water. It is not digestible and passes through the digestive system rapidly and intact. This helps to increase bowel movements and improves constipation. In addition to being able to bond with water, fiber molecules also bond with substances such as hormones, bile acids and potential carcinogens and help to carry them through and out of your digestive system. Because of this, fiber plays an important role that benefits you.

Most adults and children do not get enough fiber and usually take some form of supplement to meet daily fiber needs. Usually eating a variety of enriched fiber foods can help you meet the daily fiber requirements. But for some children with food allergies this can be difficult because of their limited diet.Neocate Junior with Prebiotic Fiber is a good option to help boost the fiber in their diets.

Is your family getting enough fiber in their diets? What are some of your favorite fiber-rich foods?

- Renee

From time to time, parents of children with allergies, who use our products, ask me if I’ve ever tried the Neocate formulas. We here at Nutricia have certainly tasted them all, but tasting and consuming are two different things. After lots of questions from parents about what their little one is feeling and whether or not it’s normal, and given my indiscriminate palate, I decided it was time to really give Neocate a try.

My plan? To go on a nothing-but-Neocate diet for two days. What, exactly, would be allowed? Neocate: specifically any of the Neocate products, the flavor packets, and the flavors straws. What wasn’t allowed? Anything else. Well, almost anything else. I decided I would still be allowed tea (lack of caffeine could be a real problem!). I also decided that, given my usually high fiber intake, I would also be allowed to supplement my Neocate diet with fiber. I found an inulin fiber supplement: the same type of fiber that’s included in Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. Some folks might say this is cheating, but I took the advice that I (as a Registered Dietitian) would give anyone: to avoid a sudden and drastic change in fiber intake, up or down. 

With these rules in mind, I used my approximate calorie needs to design a “meal plan” and dove right in.

Day 1 Menu: 

• Morning Snack: Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA
• Breakfast: Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA
• Lunch: Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA + Lemon-Lime Flavor Packet
• Dessert: Neocate Nutra + Neocate Junior Chocolate (“Chocolate Pudding”)
• Afternoon Snack: E028 Splash Orange-Pineapple
• Appetizer: Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Grapefruit Flavor Packet
• Dinner: E028 Splash Grape + Neocate Junior Chocolate (“Chocolate Covered Raisin”)
• Dessert: Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Cookies ‘n Cream Flavor Straw

Day 1 Experience:

The day started with Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA. Does this taste like standard infant formula or milk? Nope. Because the Neocate products have amino acids instead of whole protein, Neocate Infant with DHA and ARA has a different taste and a thinner texture. To me it has a grassy undertone, which isn’t so bad, and is something most infants either don’t notice or get used to after a few days. Smaller amounts were fine, but a full 350 calories of plain Neocate Infant was a bit much, even for me: by my last “meal” of Neocate Infant at lunch I decided I could use the help of our Lemon-Lime Flavor Packet. So far, so good. I was surprised that I wasn’t ravenous as the day progressed – I had my doubts that an all-liquid diet would keep me satisfied, but it really did. I managed to go to bed without having any real cravings that day. No stomachaches and nothing out of the ordinary.

Day 2 Menu:

• Morning Snack: E028 Splash Tropical Fruit
• Breakfast: E028 Splash Orange-Pineapple + Neocate Junior + Strawberry & Banana Flavor Straws (“Fruit Salad”)
• Lunch: Neocate Junior Tropical
• Dessert: Neocate Nutra + Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Cherry Vanilla Flavor Packet (“Chocolate-covered Cherry Pudding”)
• Snack: E028 Splash Tropical Fruit
• Appetizer: Neocate Junior with Prebiotics + Strawberry & Banana Flavor Straws
• Dinner: E028 Splash Orange-Pineapple + Strawberry Flavor Straw + Junior with Prebiotics
• Dessert: Neocate Nutra + Neocate Junior Chocolate + Strawberry Flavor Straw (“Chocolate-covered Strawberry Pudding”)

Day 2 Experience:

This day started with some definite hunger, but the morning snack took care of that. When I arrived at work I found a donut on my desk – so began the cravings for solid food. It was definitely difficult to avoid the snacks around the office that day, but I made it through. The toughest part was probably dinner time. I usually handle food preparation in our house, so having to cook dinner and not partake in enjoying it was difficult.

By the end of the day all of the different flavors began to taste pretty similar to me, probably because I tried to do too many flavor mash-ups. I will say that I definitely found the EO28 Splash an easy option. It seems silly, but it was so much nicer to grab a Splash instead of having to prepare a meal.

All things considered, the Neocate diet wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought, and actually made life easier. I really appreciated having all of the different flavor options and the simplicity of Splash in a ready-to-go format. That said, a third day might have gotten a little routine, so I have a great deal of respect for the patients who have to stay on an elemental diet for an extended period of time, especially those children who have had “real” food, know what it tastes like, and have to give it up.

And the question many parents would like to ask: How did I feel after two days of Neocate? Pretty normal, actually. My stomach felt a bit more “active” at times, but I never felt queasy, had diarrhea or constipation, or really felt any different than I usually do. I didn’t experience any big swings in hunger or fullness, and it was nice not worrying about whether or not I was getting a balanced meal: Neocate took care of that for me. For parents of children who are going from a more typical diet to Neocate (such as those with EE who are starting an elimination diet) you may want to check with your child’s healthcare team about using Neocate Junior with Prebiotics, which has fiber to help maintain gut health. 

How about you: have you ever tried a full serving of Neocate? If so, what did you think? Feel free to share any questions you have about my experience!

- Rob

We’ve written a few blogs in the past relating to fiber and prebiotics. One of them discussed what fiber is, and why it’s good for us and another touched on prebiotic fiber. In a previous blog that I wrote, I mentioned that I decided to supplement my all-Neocate diet with fiber. If you feel your child might benefit from a fiber supplement, we have some tips to help you choose the right one!


Know what your child needs

Before exploring the options, make sure to check with your child’s health care team to be sure that additional fiber is needed. As we’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, fiber can help to improve gut health. For many folks, adding fiber can mean being more “regular,” which would be a decrease in constipation, diarrhea, or both. Your child’s health care team will consider the symptoms your child has, his or her medical condition, the amount of fiber he or she is getting, and whether or not more fiber might be helpful. Nutricia already has the only amino acid-based formula with fiber (Neocate Junior with Prebiotics), which can help meet your little one’s fiber needs.


Know what’s available

Fiber comes in MANY different forms, and is found in a variety of foods. The best sources of dietary fiber are fruits, vegetables, beans (or “legumes”), nuts, and whole grains. However, many children on an elemental diet are limited in one or more of these food groups. They may be especially limited in processed foods, or foods that might include fiber but also have an allergen (such as whole grain bread, which can often have dairy or egg ingredients). Again, be sure to check with the health care team to see if the foods your child is eating meet his or her fiber needs.

While there is a lot of variety in the types of fiber in whole foods, the types of supplemental fiber tend to be an isolated single type of fiber. For instance, many fiber supplements are bran-based. They use the outer husk of a grain to provide both soluble and insoluble fiber. Since insoluble fiber tends to speed digestion along, it may not be the best choice.

Another common form of fiber supplement is an isolated fiber, either soluble or insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves easily, so it mixes well into Neocate Junior, E028 Splash, or Neocate Nutra. It can help slow movement through the gut, and can help add bulk to stool. This is the type of fiber we include in Neocate Junior with Prebiotics. Many of these isolated fiber supplements are inulin, which is derived from the root of the chicory plant, which poses low risk for most children with allergies.

Know what questions to ask

One of the best questions to ask is what the source of the fiber is. For children with a wheat allergy, a fiber source which is derived from wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oat might not be appropriate. For those, a parent should look for a “gluten-free” claim or contact the company for more information.

Some fiber supplements carry the label “non-allergenic” or “hypoallergenic.” It’s always best to contact the company and ask them exactly what they mean with these terms. Also be sure to ask what the source of the fiber is and whether or not the product poses any risks for your little one’s specific allergies or sensitivities.

If your child’s health care team recommends supplementing fiber, make sure to ask how much to add and how to start using it. It’s best to introduce more fiber to the diet slowly and increase it gradually instead of adding the full dose all at once. This gives the body time to adjust to the change. Fiber should also be spread out throughout the day.

Do you have questions about choosing the right fiber supplement?  Let us know in the “Comments” section below.

- Rob

[Image Source – D Sharon Pruitt]

This weekend, January 21^st– 24^th, we will be exhibiting at the 35^thannual Clinical Nutrition Week 2012 (CNW 12) in Orlando, Florida.

CNW, hosted by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.), is a three-and-a-half day conference with educational workshops for physicians, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, educators and researchers who practice in the area of clinical nutrition.

Every year we look forward to coming face-to-face with the physicians, dietitians, nurses, pharmacists and researchers and helping them improve patient care.  This is our time to demonstrate how we are advancing the science and practice of nutrition support therapy through our Neocateproducts and services. 

This year we are especially excited to promote our newest product — Neocate® Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla!  As we’ve mentioned before on the blog Neocate® Junior with Prebiotics, Vanilla is the first and only flavored amino acid-based medical food with soluble prebiotic fiber for children with GI conditions.

We’ll be sure to keep you posted on all of the fun and exciting things we hope to learn this weekend!  And, if you’re interested in learning more about A.S.P.E.N. and the CNW conference, check out their website and for the latest news updates, announcements and events Like them on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nutritioncare.org) and follow them on Twitter (@ASPENWEB).