Free Health Tips: The Benefits of Eating High Fiber Foods

By Steve Fisher, ND

To cure disease is noble...To prevent disease is wise!

Today I want to discuss the benefits of eating high fiber foods.

Dietary fiber can help a person look and feel better. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that the main difference between "normal weight" adults and their overweight counterparts was the amount of fiber they consumed. Fiber swells in your belly and fills you up. It digests slowly and adds bulk (the indigestible part) to the diet. It also helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, which helps to prevent the peaks and valleys that cause a person to want to attack anything in the fridge, and it helps to reduce the risk of Type II Diabetes.

Remember, the main benefit of fiber is to promote easy elimination and help the digestive system to function optimally. In most cases constipation comes about because there are insufficient amounts of fiber and fluid in the diet.

Fiber is also helpful in removing certain toxic metals. There are seven classifications of fiber: bran, cellulose, gum, hemicelluose, lignin, mucilages, and pectin. It is advisable to rotate your fiber sources when possible. A general rule is to start with small sources and gradually increase your intake until your stools are a good consistency.

Plant foods are the only dietary source of fiber. It is mainly cellulose, the structural part of a plant. You will find it in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Try to include whole grain cereals and flours, brown rice, agar, all types of bran, fresh fruits, dried prunes, nuts, seeds (especially flaxseeds), beans, lentils, peas, and fresh raw vegetables.

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