The community supports the idea that dietary fiber should be officially classified as an essential nutrient, arguing that its role in digestive and metabolic health is fundamental, even though its technical status is debated.

noli's read

The scientific consensus, supported by numerous observational studies and systematic reviews (e.g., The Lancet Public Health), confirms that fiber is crucial for regulating blood sugar and cholesterol and supporting the gut microbiome, which indirectly influences energy and immunity. However, the definition of an "essential nutrient" in biology requires that the body cannot synthesize the substance and that a deficiency leads to serious dysfunction, which raises technical questions because fiber is not absorbed by the body. The reservations held by internet users regarding the official classification are therefore legitimate from a strict standpoint, even if the practical importance of fiber for general well-being is widely validated by research. The idea that fiber should be included in priority recommendations is scientifically robust, unlike the idea that it is a "nutrient" in the classic biochemical sense. The community converges on the vital importance of fiber, while debating the technical details and the relevance of this new official label.

the sources

1. 1Reynolds A et al. 2019
2. 2r/nutrition