Wednesday, March 14, 2007

How A High Fibre Diet Can Save Your Life

For many years now we have been hearing about how a high fiber diet has many health benefits. Some people do follow high fiber diets and some do not. So what is it about fiber that is so beneficial to your health and what does it do within your body to promote good health.

The main reason for a high fiber diet is that it is essential for the digestive system and the elimination process.The coarseness of fiber, and the fact that it is not digestible, gives it the capacity to cleanse the internal digestive track.

Some people do not get enough fiber and this could be the reason for many diseases and the problem of obesity in the world. So what is enough fiber? Well through extensive research scientist have determine on an average a person should consume approximately 30 gram of fiber per day. Do you know how much fiber is in your diet? Well if you are a typical person you probably consume approximately 15 grams of fiber per day. Now it does vary from diet to diet and culture to culture, but if your diet is not one that consist of 5 to 6 serving of fruits and vegetables per day and if you are not consuming whole wheats and whole grain cereals and breads chances are you are not getting the recommended daily amount of fiber in your diet

Some may think that it's not a big concern. What one should be asking themselves is if I consumed more fiber would it have a beneficial effect on my life? If one is to look at their diet, they should be thinking, will this way of eating continue to keep me healthy, or if I started consuming more fiber could I be assisting my body in maintaining an better level of health.

Most people have no idea what fiber is.Well fiber is the roughage parts of the food that cannot be fully digested. There are two type of fiber, soluble and insoluble fiber. Each type of fiber plays a certain roll in your digestive track and aids your 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

On the other hand insoluble fiber cannot be dissolved in water and is actually more of the bulk that moves through and cleanses your digestive track. Insoluble fiber has the qualities to slow down the speed in which sugar is absorbed into your blood stream and is also great in treating 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.

Another benefit of a high fiber diet is weight management. Typically you will consume less calories when eating a high fiber diet because the fiber will make you feel fuller quicker and for a longer period of time. It also helps in faster elimination of waste which can reduce weight. Fiber also helps to modify blood glucose levels, reduces or cures constipation, alleviates hemorrhoids and may reduced the risk of cancer.

So the benefits of a high fiber diet can not only help you feel better and avoid diseases but fiber can also help you look better by reducing weight and eliminating waste faster. So eat your green leafy vegetable, consume your fresh and dried fruits and read labels to observe the amounts of insoluble and soluble fiber to aid your body in staying healthy.

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