Is cellulose a carbohydrate? Why? Can eating cellulose help you lose weight?

Cellulose is the oldest and most abundant natural polymer on earth. It is inexhaustible and the most precious natural renewable resource for human beings. Fibrous food is indeed low-calorie food. Let's find out whether cellulose is a sugar.

Contents of this article

1. Is cellulose a sugar? Why?

2. Can eating fiber help you lose weight?

3. Foods rich in fiber

Is cellulose a sugar? Why?

Cellulose belongs to the class of sugars. Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on earth. It is the most widely distributed and abundant polysaccharide in nature and the main component of plant cell walls. Cellulose is a macromolecular polysaccharide composed of glucose. It is insoluble in water and general organic solvents.

Sugars are called carbohydrates, including monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. They are mainly chemical substances composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and are extremely important components of the human body. The main components of cellulose are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, so cellulose is also a sugar.

Carbohydrates are important energy sources for humans and animals. Some herbivores ingest cellulose by eating grass or other cellulose-containing substances. Under the action of cellulase in the animal's body, cellulose is hydrolyzed into glucose.

Cotton, flax, ramie and jute contain a lot of high-quality cellulose. The cellulose content in cotton fiber is 90%, the cellulose content in wood is 40%-50%, and the cellulose content in dry hemp is 57%.

Can eating fiber help you lose weight?

Fibrous foods are indeed low-calorie foods, but if you only consume fiber foods, it will lead to malnutrition, which is not good for the body and will not achieve the effect of weight loss. Cellulose is a macromolecular polysaccharide composed of glucose. It is insoluble in water and general organic solvents. It is the main component of plant cell walls. Cellulose is the most widely distributed and abundant polysaccharide in nature, accounting for more than 50% of the carbon content in the plant kingdom. The cellulose content of cotton is close to 100%, which is the purest natural source of cellulose.

Cellulose is the main structural component of plant cell walls, usually combined with hemicellulose, pectin and lignin. The way and degree of combination have a great influence on the texture of plant-based foods. The change in texture of plants during maturity and ripening is caused by changes in pectin. Cellulase does not exist in the human digestive tract. Cellulose is an important dietary fiber. It is the most widely distributed and abundant polysaccharide in nature. Generally, babies aged 0-1 can also take appropriate cellulose supplements, and babies can usually start taking them at 4 months old.

The role of cellulose is: Cellulose is the oldest and most abundant natural polymer on earth. It is inexhaustible and the most precious natural renewable resource for mankind. Cellulose chemistry and industry began more than 160 years ago and was the main research object during the birth and development of polymer chemistry. The research results of cellulose and its derivatives have made significant contributions to the creation, development and enrichment of polymer physics and chemistry.

Fiber-rich foods

Mint has a high fiber content. Even fresh mint has a fiber content of 5%, and dried mint has a fiber content of up to 31.1%. Therefore, it is not recommended to consume it in large quantities with other fiber-rich foods, because fiber is difficult to digest. Eating it in large quantities will accumulate in the intestines and absorb water to swell, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating and diarrhea.

Foods rich in fiber include: dried bamboo shoots, dried plums, dried bean leaves, dried beans, dried corn, brown rice, buckwheat, and sorghum.