Cellulose: Top Health Benefits For A Healthy Lifestyle

What Is Cellulose?

Life on the planet Earth relies heavily on the process of photosynthesis — the process by which plants capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy. ¹

This, of course, results in the production of plant biomass, which consists mainly of the component cellulose. Cellulose can be found throughout nature in all types of plant cell walls. In fact, it’s even produced by a few marine invertebrates and even some bacteria. ²

Basically, cellulose is a molecule that consists of thousands of the following types of atoms: hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Because it forms the walls of various plant cells, it tends to help plants stay healthy and stand upright. Humans are unable to digest cellulose, so it’s an acceptable form of insoluble fiber in the human diet. ³

Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate and polysaccharide. Sometimes it can contain as many as 3,000 glucose units. It composes almost 33 percent of all vegetable matter, and it is, hands down, the most abundant organic compound that occurs in nature. ⁴

History Of Cellulose

The first chemist to discover cellulose was France’s Anselme Payen. He isolated the compound from plant matter in 1838. From there, Payen was able to determine the chemical formula of cellulose. By 1870, the Hyatt Manufacturing Company used cellulose to produce the world’s first successful thermoplastic polymer. ⁵

In the 1890s, companies started to use cellulose in the production of artificial silk (also known as rayon. Next, cellulose was used to produce cellophane — that invention came in 1912. ⁶

Now, as previously mentioned, humans are unable to digest cellulose. However, cellulose is essential in the human diet as a source of fiber. Fiber’s goal is to keep food moving through your gut and the rest of your digestive tract by helping to push waste out through your body.⁷ 

The effects of cellulose on the large intestine have been researched in some detail. When cellulose gets to your large intestine, the microflora in your gut helps ferment the fiber with the last generation of short-chain fatty acids, methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.⁸

One study reported that when purified cellulose was administered to volunteer patients in long-term feeding studies, the supplementation led to noticeable increases in stool output and a shortened transit time for waste. Clearly, cellulose has the ability to help support gut health in humans, especially when it comes to the large intestine.⁹

Potential Health Benefits of Cellulose†

Now, as previously mentioned, humans are unable to digest cellulose. However, cellulose is essential in the human diet as a source of fiber. Fiber’s goal is to keep food moving through your gut and the rest of your digestive tract by helping to push waste out through your body.⁷ 

The effects of cellulose on the large intestine have been researched in some detail. When cellulose gets to your large intestine, the microflora in your gut helps ferment the fiber with the last generation of short-chain fatty acids, methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.⁸

One study reported that when purified cellulose was administered to volunteer patients in long-term feeding studies, the supplementation led to noticeable increases in stool output and a shortened transit time for waste. Clearly, cellulose has the ability to help support gut health in humans, especially when it comes to large intestine.⁹

Which Gundry MD Supplements Include Cellulose?

Wondering where to buy supplements that include cellulose? For starters, you can examine Gundry MD Citrus Polyphenols. Not only will you find information about Citrus Polyphenols, but you will also be able to research other ingredients in all of Gundry MD’s supplements.

Again, Citrus Polyphenols contains cellulose, but it’s also chock full of other phytochemicals that may support your overall health. So, take a look at customer reviews, and read on about the ingredients in Citrus Polyphenols.

Sources:
1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/9780470015902.a0003198.pub2
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC120791/
3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/znyycdm/articles/z2d2gdm
4. https://www.britannica.com/science/cellulose
5. https://cpb-ca-c1.wpmucdn.com/myriverside.sd43.bc.ca/dist/d/2157/files/2016/12/cellulose-21d0k88.pdf
6. https://cpb-ca-c1.wpmucdn.com/myriverside.sd43.bc.ca/dist/d/2157/files/2016/12/cellulose-21d0k88.pdf
7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/znyycdm/articles/z2d2gdm
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1432575/pdf/gut00393-0005.pdf
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1432575/pdf/gut00393-0005.pdf