A reminder of the importance of fiber in a diet

Today, and May 18th annually, is Fiber Day ファイバーの日 in Japan. The anniversary was established by Fiber Academia, an academic organization dedicated to sharing accurate information about dietary fiber. The date of the anniversary comes from a simple wordplay on how 5/18 can be read as "fa (5) i (1) ba (8)", echoing the English word fiber.

The purpose of the day is to encourage people to recognize the importance of consuming adequate dietary fiber for long‑term health. Dietary fiber is a component of food that cannot be digested by human enzymes and is excreted as is. Japan highlights two major categories. One is soluble fiber, found in pectin, agar, and indigestible dextrin, which helps regulate cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight. The other is insoluble fiber, found in vegetables, mushrooms, and chitin/chitosan, which promotes bowel movements and supports detoxification processes in the body. Japan’s dietary guidelines recommend 19g or more per day for adult men and 17g or more for adult women. 

Fiber Day encourages people to eat a balanced diet rich in grains, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, and fruit. All foods that have long been central to Japanese cuisine and wellness traditions.