Fiber is the Beginning to Improving Your Diet

By Tim Williams • November 2, 2009

fiber One of the ways to greatly improve your health and give a boost to your diet is to add fiber to your diet. Fiber makes the trip through your body with no real change in its structure, since the human body lacks what is needed to digest it. Despite our body’s in ability to do anything with fiber, that is exactly why fiber is good for us.

It comes from the structural network of cells in plants, which includes wheat and grains, fruits, nuts, veggies, anything which is grown from the earth. It can go by names such a roughage or bulk, and because it does not break down in our bodies, it works like a squeegee, cleaning out the intestines and promoting general health. They can also promote a healthy weight, helping individuals lose weight. High-fiber diets work by filling you up. The bulk moniker comes from the fact that fiber is filling, and foods high in fiber have much fewer calories than other foods. The only chance to break down fiber is by chewing, and that is not an easy process. You take much longer to eat and have more of a chance to notice when you are full.

Recent research have discovered that fiber does a lot more for our health. When fiber enters the body, the body releases cholecystokinin, which tells your systems that you are full and do not need to eat more. High fiber diets can also reduce the chance for a number of diseases. Type 2 diabetes is greatly reduced among those who eat a fiber rich diet, as well as heart disease. Those who do have diabetes can benefit from fiber, since it works to slow the absorption of sugars, regulating blood glucose levels after eating.

There are two general classifications to fiber; soluble fiber that dissolves in water or other fluids, and insoluble fiber, which will not dissolve in fluids. Soluble fiber will gel in water and is the fiber responsible for diabetes and heart risk protection. It is found in oats, apples, beans, and other similar plants. Insoluble fiber comes from nuts, many vegetables and wheat. It is the fiber responsible for really cleaning out your intestinal system.

What is important is that processing plant products is like chewing, it breaks down fiber before you have a chance to chew. Every time the plant is processed, fiber is reduced. White rice, refined cereals, cookies, crackers, white bread, all have little fiber. It is no wonder that the typical American diet is only about half to a third of what is recommended. Fiber can be supplanted through diet, or taking a supplement. What ever route you choose, go slow and drink lots of water. Fiber absorbs water and if you increase fiber without increasing water, you can get dehydrated and negatively reinforce proper fiber intake. A quick change may be followed by gas, feeling bloated or cramping, but that will go away. Adding fiber slowly will prevent systems and put you on the tract to increase health.

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Originally posted 2009-02-23 05:25:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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