Fiber is not necessarily fibrous

December 29, 2022

In nutrition science, the word fiber refers to the type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest. This definition of fiber is so different from the kind of fiber found in many plants that they might as well be completely different words.

<—>

Coconut coir fibers are obtained from the outermost layer of the husk. They are typically light brown in color, durable, and resistant to water.

Credit: Midjourney

Indeed, these are a kind of fiber that your body cannot digest. You cannot digest banana peals either. In nutrition science, the word fiber refers to eatible, appetizing carbohydrates that the body can’t digest. Some of the highest fiber foods are not fibrous:

So whenever you hear the word fiber in a nutrition context, picture slimy gel instead of coconut coir.