Dietary fiber
Japanese: 食物繊維（ダイエタリーファイバー）
Carbohydrates that human digestive enzymes cannot break down. Gut bacteria ferment these fibers, producing short-chain fatty acids.
Dietary fiber consists of carbohydrates that human digestive enzymes cannot break down. Yet this indigestibility holds great significance.
Fiber that reaches the intestines becomes a feast for gut bacteria. Bifidobacteria and butyrate-producing bacteria ferment it, generating short-chain fatty acids like butyrate and acetate—crucial substances that protect intestinal lining and support immune function.
Consuming fermented foods alongside dietary fiber means taking probiotics and prebiotics together—delivering both beneficial microbes and their food simultaneously. It's a rational approach to supporting gut fermentation.