9 Facts About Fiber

If you've been looking for a high octane diet, you may find that a diet high in fiber is exactly what you need.  Even though research has shown fiber to be a powerful aid in health, fitness, and longevity, many people still aren't taking this nutrient seriously.

To help you feed your health with fiber (pun intended), here are 9 facts to help you understand more about this simple additive to the fuel you eat.

1.  Fiber fights diseases.  Research has shown that a diet high in fiber can help to prevent colon cancer and heart disease.  A high fiber diet helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by binding it in the digestive tract.  And, most of us are at least somewhat aware that or thousands of years, fiber has been used to stop constipation.

2.  Fiber can actually help control overeating.  All high fiber foods will take longer to chew AND digest, staying in the system longer, making you feel satisfied for a longer period of time than with other foods.

3.  Most of our popular foods don't have enough fiber.  If you like the more popular foods, and often these include many fast foods, you probably need to increase your intake of fiber either by changing your diet or by adding a fiber supplement.

4.  Whole grains, a great source of protein as well, offer the most fiber.  Dietary fiber is simply plant matter that we cannot digest but which the body needs for health and optimum function.  The best sources are whole grains and concentrated grain products. 

5.  Kids need fiber as much as adults do.  Children older than 2 years of age should consume a daily intake of fiber.  Kids are generally going to be most receptive to fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and even that staple of the American diet, fortified breakfast cereals. 

6.  More fiber means more water.  In order to keep fiber moving easily through your digestive tract, you'll need to consume a lot of water.  With your high diet of fiber, or fiber supplement, you'll need eight or more glasses of water every day.

7.  Fiber cannot be cooked out of foods.  When you cook your fruits and vegetables, don't worry about cooking the fiber out.  It will still be there.  The fiber found in fruits and vegetables, by the way, aren't just in the skin or in the peel.

8.  You can get enough fiber.  In fact, you do not want to get too much fiber.  If you eat more than 50 grams of fiber in a day, you can get diarrhea and bloating, which can interfere with your body's absorption and use of other key minerals.

9.  Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet doesn't have to be hard.  Even though you may think so, getting the amount of fiber you need from the food you eat isn't very hard to do.  All you have to do is eat the right foods and you'll be well on your way to a fiber rich lifestyle.  However, you can also use a fiber supplement to help get the amount of fiber you need.

As one of the key ingredients to healthy eating, fiber is something you don't want to skip.  Fiber can serve many different purposes and help the body remain healthy and fit for many years.  If you aren't getting enough fiber in your diet - you should do something about it now instead of waiting until it is too late.

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