RSS
Home
Fiber is essential for good health and weight loss
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
“This town needs an enema!” was a line uttered by the Joker in the original Batman movie. And so do most American towns since, according to The American Dietetic Association most Americans don't even come close to the recommended intake of fiber, let alone know how much is the recommended intake.
What is dietary fiber?
Fiber is the part of grains fruits and vegetables that the human body can’t fully digest. There are just two types: water-insoluble fiber found mainly in whole-grains, vegetables and nuts and water-soluble, found in oats, beans, fruits and some vegetables. Your body needs both types of fiber for good health.
Fiber helps the body’s digestive system function efficiently. Fiber absorbs water and expands. It keeps food moving through the digestive tract, mainly the stomach and large intestine. Fiber helps to lower cholesterol levels, prevent colon cancer, control weight and treat diabetes. Studies have shown that fiber may also lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Most experts recommend eating 20-30 grams of fiber per day, but no more than 35 grams per day. In order to prevent digestive discomfort you should eat a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, yogurt, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. Try replacing white bread with fiber-rich whole-wheat bread. I like Food For Life’s Sprouted Grain Ezekiel bread.
Tips for adding fiber to your diet
- Eat a piece of fresh fruit or add fruit to cereals and yogurts
- Have bean or vegetable soups
- Include nuts and seeds in salads
- Eat whole grain crackers or flax crackers
- Add flax seeds to ground meat for meatballs (used in Men’s Health Abs Diet)
- Leave the skin on fruits and vegetables (wash them first)
- Eat slowly. Chew, chew, chew.
In addition to getting enough fiber, you should also follow basic nutrition guidelines such as watching your fat and cholesterol intake from red meat and avoid commercially fried (chicken) and baked goods. Always drink lots of water.
This article was adapted from the Channing Bete Company. Get a copy at www.channing-bete.com
.jpg)
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
- 10 reasons why you shouldn't cancel your gym membership when you are broke
- 10 healthy foods that kill hunger
- 10 tips for eating healthy when you have no time to eat healthy
- 10 healthy 'poor man's' foods for when you have nothing to eat
- 5 fat trimming foods that boost sex drive
- 6 stressless Starbucks snacks
- 5 popular bad habits that destroy motivation
- 10 fitness habits you never knew were bad
- 10 foods you think are healthy but aren't
- The 10 Commandments of working out
- 10 healthy 'poor man's' foods for when you have nothing to eat
- How to get Playgirl six pack abs
- Exposed: 10 foods you think are healthy but aren't
- Women rate muscular men as sexier but chubby men are more faithful
- Principles for developing six pack abs
- Practical, effective fitness and workout tips for the gym or at home
- Protein powder primer; the number one body building supplement
- You alone hold the key to transforming problems into opportunities
- To reach your weight loss goals it is best to simply follow yourself
- Avoid quitting with these secret mind tricks
