How a High Fiber Diet Can Save your Life
By now many know the benefits of a high fiber diet.Although there are many that do follow a high fiber diet the majority of people 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
So whats the big deal? We have all heard this for years that we need to consume more fiber and even though we may not be, we are all still living, right? This is true but are you as healthy as you could be?If you are to look at your diet, you should be thinking, will this way of eating continue to keep you healthy, 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.
So what is fiber anyway? Well fiber is the roughage or 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.
It forms a jelly like substance
when dissolved in water which creates bulk within your digestive track. As this jelly substance moves through
your small intestine is absorbs cholesterol from your digestive track and eliminates it 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%. Some ways to get soluble fiber is by eating foods
like apples, pears, citrus, oat bran, psyllum and beans.
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 tract. Insoluble fiber purpose is to treat constipation and also assist in slowing down the absorption of sugar into your bloody stream. This can help people who suffer with diabetes by regulating the sugar levels and preventing spikes of sugar overload. Insoluble fiber can be found in such foods as wheat bran, cabbage and root vegetables.
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.
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.
The author is in pursuit of a life that works on all levels. You can visit his site http://www.mycompletelife.com to find other great resources on health, yoga, meditation, spiritual growth and other ways to improve your life.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
