‘Invisible fiber’ can make food healthier

Move over, Metamucil. There’s a new fiber in town.

Scientists from RMIT University in Australia have created FiberX, a modified starch product that can be added to food to increase fiber content. The best part is it won’t affect the food’s taste, color or texture.

“We can now add extra fiber to foods like white bread and other staples without changing the taste or texture, which has been one of the main issues with many commercially available fiber supplements to date,” food technologist Asgar Farahnaky, an associate professor from RMIT University, told Science Alert.

“Our product is not even noticeable once added. It’s just like a parent hiding vegetables in a child’s meal to make it more nutritious.”

It’s suitable for fortifying low-calorie foods and can be gluten-free, the university wrote, or added to low-fiber foods such as white bread, cakes, pasta, pizza and sauces.

The best part is your cake will still taste like cake and your pizza will still taste like pizza. In fact, the researchers said they were able to add about 20 percent more fiber to dishes before taste testers noticed.

Dietary fiber is important to maintain a healthy bowel, control blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol, among other benefits, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The Institute of Medicine recommends women consume 21-25 grams of fiber daily, and men get 30-38.

“This new technology means we can increase the amount of fiber that goes into the food so we can receive our recommended daily intake, even while consuming less foods, which has potential to help with weight management and diabetes,” Farahnaky said.