What is meant by roughage in diet?

We hear a lot of this word, roughage, from doctors, nutrition experts and friends who are fitness freaks. Many who don’t know what it means are often embarrassed during such discussions.

Roughage is the dietary fiber that includes all parts of plant foods that the body can’t digest or absorb. Unlike other food components, such as fats, proteins or carbohydrates which are broken down and absorbed, fiber isn’t digested by the body. Instead, it remains almost intact and passes through the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and out of the body.

Roughage has great health benefits, such as helping to maintain a healthy weight and lowering risk of diabetes and heart disease. It also reduces chances of constipation.

Dr. Ajay Sati.