Does Fiber Cause Liver Cancer?

What? Okay, that isn’t exactly what the health headline said. An article published in SciTechDaily last week said Diets High in Processed Fiber May Increase Cancer Risk. It appears they published the press release about a study from the University of Toledo. What piqued my interest was that it focused on my favorite fiber, inulin. That’s one of the soluble fibers I use together with psyllium husks every day.

What made this particularly disturbing was that the processed fiber appeared to contribute to a particularly nasty type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma. As you know, headlines are meant to grab your attention, but everything isn’t always as portrayed.

Let’s begin with some facts. In the U.S., 28,600 men and 12,660 women will be diagnosed with all forms of liver cancer in 2022. While it’s in the top 10 types of cancer, the U.S. has a population of 330 million, so that’s still not a huge number; rates are higher in less developed countries.

Typical intake of all types of fiber is about 14 grams on average, less than half of what the fiber intake should be. Depending on diet, fiber intake should be about 1.4% of the dietary intake by volume.

On Saturday, I’ll talk about the studies and put things in perspective. I’ll also be taking my fiber every day as well.

Tomorrow night is the monthly Insider Conference Call. I’ll be covering several health topics in the news as well as the 3/7 weight training program. Become and Insider before 8 p.m. Wednesday and you can join the call at 9 p.m.

What are you prepared to do today?