Fiber Matters
Boost your nutritional IQ with these 10 important facts about fiber.
March/April 2005
By Kathryn Compton
In a recent business meeting, one employee was being especially cantankerous and another remarked that the first obviously needed more fiber in his diet. Everyone laughed and the meeting continued.
RELATED CONTENT
People who aren’t crazy about the texture of whole grains may delight in quinoa. Its tiny round gra...
Rye is a great source of fiber....
Vegetables are generally high in dietary fiber. Asparagus, artichokes, and onion can help alleviate...
Fats and oils provide the emollients necessary to ease fiber through your system. Avocados are not ...
Although there are many medicinal herbs that provide laxative action, basil is one of the few culin...
The point of this anecdote is that everyone at the meeting knew that fiber in the diet is a good thing, and that its absence can make us cranky. What they might not have known is why, nor the other remarkable benefits that accrue with adequate dietary fiber. They might be especially interested to know that fiber is a vital key to staying slim.
On the theory that we’re more likely to do the stuff that’s good for us if we understand why it’s good for us, here are the top 10 things you should know about fiber, along with some recommendations for tasty, inexpensive ways to boost the amount of fiber in your diet.
What is Fiber?
Fiber refers to the parts of plants that humans can’t digest. Generally classified as either soluble or insoluble fiber, it is found in varying amounts in all vegetables and fruits. The American diet is extremely low in fiber because we traditionally have focused on refined grain products, such as white breads and pastas, and eat few vegetables and fruits. Insufficient fiber in the diet can cause constipation, which is not only uncomfortable, but also extremely unhealthy. Good sources of fiber include whole-grain breads and cereals, beans, bran, vegetables and fruit. Flax seed and psyllium seed are also superb sources of fiber. Fiber supplements are available, but food sources are more often recommended because they provide whole nutrition.
Start Slowly
It’s hard to imagine another simple lifestyle change that could have such far-reaching implications as simply reaching for whole-grain bread and fresh fruit. If you aren’t in the habit of eating fiber-rich foods, start slowly and go for what you find most delicious first. You may not be a bean fan, but you’ve always enjoyed strawberries. Maybe fruit has never appealed to you, but you just can’t get enough carrots. Slow and steady wins the race, and the prize at the end of the road is your health. That’s worth making some changes for, isn’t it?
Page: 1 |
2 |
3 |
Next >>