Fiber is a health-giving food factor that’s a must for every healthy body.
Fiber (or roughage) has a major influence on good health. Studies show that those who add some kind of fiber to their diets have a lower rate of heart disease, varicose veins, gallstones, and colon and rectal cancer. Lower cholesterol and cleaner, more efficient digestive systems are two extra health benefits for those following a fiber-rich diet.
Here are a few facts to boost your fiber I.Q.
• Fiber isn’t only found in raw food. Cooked fruits and vegetables as well as grains still have living fiber.
• Bran, both wheat and oat, isn’t the richest source of fiber — the elderberry is. It weighs in at a whopping 10 grams per cup.
• All fibers do not taste the same.
• Not all fibers will help lower cholesterol.
• Although it’s true that fiber has no nutritional value, it does have lots of nutritional impact.
There are two categories of fiber, both of which are derived from plants: soluble and insoluble. These fibers are equally important and play distinct roles in your health when added to the daily diet.
Insoluble fiber is the best-known of the two. It’s found in the skins of fruits such as apples and pears, as well as in whole wheat flour, wheat brans, whole grains, and beans. These fibers, unlike the solubles, won’t break down in water. However, they will absorb water in the digestive tract, and this helps transport the internal waste (from your body’s natural food processor) to be eliminated from your body. There is evidence that a diet high in insoluble fiber can help prevent and relieve constipation as well as cure irritable bowel movements or irregularities. Additionally, this type of fiber helps remove carcinogens lurking in the lower digestive tract.
The soluble fibers are those that cause the gel-like consistency in jellies, preserves and jams. They’re also responsible for that gumminess or stickiness present in oatmeal, porridge, and certain other hot cereals, as well as for the thickness in processed foods such as puddings. This gummy-like fiber can help you lose up to five percent of the fat calories you eat by making it more difficult for you body to digest fat. Soluble fiber also gives you that full feeling and can add to weight loss by helping curb your appetite.
Could it be that Goldielocks and the three bears knew something we didn’t?
In recent clinical studies, total serum cholesterol levels dropped an average of almost ten percent on subjects who added oatmeal to their already low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Some medical studies suggest such a drop could reduce your risk of heart attack. You see, Grandma was right. Eat your porridge! And that’s no nursery rhyme.
Recent Comments