Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Is Fiber the New Protein? The Surprising Health Benefits of the Latest Wellness Trend
Mar 4, 2026
They unpack why fiber has overtaken protein as the latest wellness craze and how industry marketing fuels the trend. The conversation covers different fiber types and how they affect digestion, mood and brain health. They explain the fiber paradox where some people worsen when increasing fiber and outline a stepwise plan to stabilize the gut before reintroducing diverse whole-food fibers.
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Food Industry Is Pushing Fiber Fortification
- Industry is marketing fiber as the next protein, driving reformulation of processed foods with added isolated fibers.
- Companies like PepsiCo view fiber as the next big trend, creating fiber-fortified ultraprocessed products.
Widespread Fiber Deficiency Harms Metabolic Health
- Most adults eat far less fiber than recommended, creating metabolic and inflammatory consequences.
- In the US and UK about 96% miss the ~30 g/day target, averaging ~16 g and risking blood sugar instability and inflammation.
Three Fiber Types And How They Work
- Fiber works via three main types: fermentable, insoluble, and viscous, each with distinct benefits.
- Fermentable fuels gut bacteria to make short-chain fatty acids; viscous fibers slow sugar absorption; insoluble adds bulk.