Boston, Mass. -- It may not prevent colon cancer, as originally thought, but fiber continues to play an important dietary role, says Tufts nutrition researcher Jeanne Goldberg. "Everyone wants a humming and purring gastrointestinal tract, and fruits, vegetables and whole grains [the most common natural sources of fiber] of have a beneficial effect," Goldberg told the Commercial Appeal, a Memphis newspaper.

   As the debate over fiber's health benefits continues, Goldberg said she hopes people don't give up their fiber because it might not have all of the benefits originally thought.

   "Foods are very complicated," she said. "That's why we eat food and not pills. Science is a journey. Ten years ago, no one thought about the mysterious compounds we now know are in food."

   In April, Goldberg appeared on the Today Show and NBC's Nightly News to discuss the importance of fiber in a complete diet. She told NBC that people should not stop eating fiber just because two recent studies may disprove earlier findings that fiber prevents colon cancer.

   "The findings of this study do not translate into, it's a waste of time to eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains," Goldberg said. "Far from it."

Online: http://www.tufts.edu/communications/printable/051500fiber