How a High Fiber Diet Can Save Your Life

By now many know the benefits of a high fiber diet.Some people do follow high fiber diets and some do not. I believe the reason why many people do not follow a high fiber diet is that they truly don't realize what the fiber does within the body and how beneficial it is in keep them healthy.

Well firstly fiber is a necessity for an effective digestive system and for the elimination of waste products. Fiber, also known as roughage, cannot be digested and provides a coarseness which cleans out your internal track.

It can be said the one reason for the obesity problem in the world is that people are just not consuming enough fiber. So how much fiber is enough? Research has shown that the average person should be consuming about 30 grams of fiber every day. Most people have no idea how much fiber they consume daily and at best consume about half the recommended levels. Although many diets vary due to life style, cultures and habits it is easy to say that if one is not consuming at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day and if they are not eating whole wheat and grains from breads and cereals they are most likely not getting their recommended 30 grams of fiber.

So whats the big deal? We have all heard this for years to consume more fiber and even though we may not be, we are all still living, right? Yes, this is true but are you as healthy as you could be? Are you really consuming the diet that will actually keep you healthy for years to come, or will the lack of fiber in your diet contribute, and maybe its currently contributing, to a level of health that is below optimal levels.

Most people have no idea what fiber is. Fiber is actually the part of our food that cannot be fully digested. The two different types of fiber, soluble and insoluble, perform differently within your digestive track and help the body in different ways.

Soluble fiber is the type of fiber that dissolves in water. As it dissolves it forms a jelly like substance creating bulk. When this bulk or jelly is in the small intestine it has the qualities that will absorb the cholesterol from your digestive track and eliminate it from your body through your waste. Since this cholesterol is pulled out of the digestive track the body then pulls cholesterol from the blood system regulating the digestive system and lowering your cholesterol level in your blood stream. Soluble fiber can reduce your serum cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol) by as much as 15%. You can consume your soluble fibers through oat bran, apples, citrus, pears , beans and psyllum

The other type of fiber, insoluble fiber, does not dissolve in water, it is actually the more course and bulky fiber that moves through and cleanses your digestive system. Insoluble fiber has the qualities to slow down the speed in which sugar is absorbed into your blood stream and is also great to treat constipation. People who are diabetics can benefit from consuming insoluble fiber since it regulates the blood sugar levels and curbs sugar spike overloads. Cabbage, root vegetables and wheat bran are excellent sources for insoluble fiber.

Weight management is another sometimes overlooked benefit of a high fiber diet. Because of the bulk of fibrous food they will make you feel fuller faster which typically leads to eating less and in turn you consume less calories. There is also the benefit of weight loss due to the fewer calories and the efficiency of waste elimination. Some additional health benefits of a high fiber diet include the reduced risk of cancer, alleviates hemorrhoids, reduces or cures constipation, and the reduction of glucose levels.

There are so many health benefits with an increased fiber diet which will help you feel better, look better and reduce or eliminate the risk of many diseases. By doing a few new things like consuming more fruits, both dried and fresh,eating more green leafy vegetables and reading labels to see how much soluble and insolube fiber is in the foods you consume, one can start to assist their body in functioning at an higher level of health.

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