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Cellulose in nutrition holistic - nutrition holistic
When talking about nutrition, cellulose might not seem to be a very relevant compound, especially because most mammals, including humans, cannot break it down or obtain any nutritional value from it.
Despite this, cellulose, one of the most common compounds in plant life, has aroused the interest of nutrition enthusiasts. This has led to an increasing number of studies on its potential usefulness in food.
To explore more about this curious compound, we invite you to delve deeper into this guide, where we will review key concepts about cellulose and its usefulness in a healthy diet.
Cellulose is a molecule composed of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. As mentioned, it is found in virtually all elements of plant life, being stored in the walls of plant cells.
The human body does not have the ability to break it down, which means that it does not provide any nutritional value. Ingesting cellulose provides no useful nutrients or calories for bodily functions.
At this point, you may wonder what is the value of cellulose if it does not provide nutrients and cannot be utilized by the body.
The answer lies in its value as dietary fiber, which makes it a key additive in diets focused on weight loss. Since it does not contribute calories, it does not contribute to weight gain. Moreover, being a bulky fiber, it helps to satiate the appetite without the need to ingest large amounts of food.
Therefore, cellulose is mainly used as an additive in foods to increase bulk and provide a feeling of satiety. Although it does not provide calories, it helps you feel full without adding extra energy.
It is important to be careful with the abuse of these types of additives, including cellulose and fibers in general. While they are useful for weight control, too much can lead to a nutritional deficit. This is because, by satiating hunger without providing nutrients, you could end up neglecting your body's basic needs.
If you decide to follow a diet that makes use of this type of additives, it is essential that you do so with the help of a professional. This way, you can make sure that your diet is well balanced and covers all your body's nutritional needs.
There are numerous cases of people who significantly increase their fiber intake to control their weight, but neglect other essential nutrients. In the long term, this can lead to serious health problems.
Cellulose is an easily accessible and inexpensive compound that can be very useful, as long as it is used with knowledge and responsibility. Remember that the key is to understand the functions and limitations of the different elements that make up your diet.
