ABSTRACT
Hummus, falafel, tabouli, and majadara are just a few foods commonly eaten in Israel that are rich in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber consumption plays an important role in maintaining good health and preventing disease. The most comprehensive data available on dietary fiber consumption in Israel is a survey carried out in 1985, which represents the only large-scale study of food intake in a healthy adult population. The role of dietary fiber in colon cancer prevention has been investigated using animal models of DMH-induced colon cancer. Possible explanations for the differences in glycemic response in diabetic subjects may be the high dietary fiber content of majadara and low fiber content of the kugel. A wide variety of research in the field of dietary fiber has been carried out and continues in Israel. All available data indicate that the Israeli population, on the whole, consumes dietary fiber at levels similar to guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture.
