Fiber Is Good for You. Now Scientists May Know Why.
Dr. Bäckhed and his colleagues ran one more interesting experiment: They spiked water
given to mice on a high-fat diet with a species of fiber-feeding bacteria.
The mucus layer in their guts was healthier than in mice
that didn’t get fiber, the scientists found, and intestinal bacteria were kept at a safer distance from their intestinal wall.
The addition changed the mice for the better: Even on a high-fat diet, they produced more mucus
in their guts, creating a healthy barrier to keep bacteria from the intestinal walls.
Dr. Bäckhed and his colleagues carried out a similar experiment, surveying the microbiome
in mice as they were switched from fiber-rich food to a low-fiber diet.
