Fiber has become a current “buzz” word with health gurus and marketers. So what’s all the fuss about? Well, without adequate fiber your system just doesn’t run very well. In the simplest of terms, think of fiber as a garden rake that clears away all the debris and allows your body to function properly.
Where does fiber come from. First, let’s look at where it “doesn’t” come from. If your food ever walked, swam or flew, or if it came from something that walked, swam or flew, it has no fiber; zilch, nada, non, like in a big fat 0! So what does that leave? Fresh fruits, vegetables, lignums and vetches. Big “B” boring you may say. Ah, oh you of little faith, not so. There is no need for high fiber foods to be boring, and you don’t need to become a vegetarian to get enough fiber in your diet, and there is certainly no need to take a fiber supplement.
Just consider this; the FDA states that you need between 20 and 30 grams of fiber a day for good health. If you eat a basic, well rounded diet with a minimum of processed foods, it is hard not to get enough fiber. A one cup serving of Pinto beans contains 15 grams of fiber. A one cup serving of lentils contains 16 grams. But what about protein, you may say. If I don’t eat meat or eggs or cheese I won’t get enough protein. That one cup serving of beans contains 15 grams of a readily accessible protein, the lentils,19 grams.
Now, if it is not your proclivity to be a vegetarian, there is no need. Man was not designed to be a total vegetarian. Like pigs and bears, we are designed to be omnivores; however, most of us consume far too much animal product for good health. Remember, if it walks, swims or flies it has no fiber and a lot of cholesterol. And also remember that vegetable products, ie. fruit, vegetables, beans and grains contain no cholesterol.
"But I just don’t like vegetables. They’re boring?"
Oh ye of little faith ...
This Summer Corn Salad is not boring.
This Split Pea Soup is not boring.
This Roasted Pepper and Portobello Burger is not boring and these Cabbage Rolls most definitely are not boring! All are high in fiber, low in fat, delectable and far, far, from boring.
You owe it to your taste buds and your body to give them a try. You will most likely be very pleasantly surprised.
And here are many more High Fiber, Low Fat recipes that I do not think you will find boring in the least. You may find this list of High Fiber Foods from the Mayo Clinic helpeful.
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