So you’re pretty healthy, right? You watch your calories; take your vitamins daily and workout regularly, even changing up your workout routines to keep your body guessing. Overall you’re on the right track when it comes to your health but there maybe one thing missing from your life, one very important thing that most Americans overlook and that’s good old fiber.
Shockingly, most American’s need to double their fiber intake to meet their daily needs. We should aim to consume at least 25 – 30 grams a day. You may be thinking, isn’t fiber for old people? Well my friend, you’re wrong; it’s not just for Grammy and Gramp’s anymore. The benefits of fiber are amazing and by simply making a few adjustments to your diet, you can make sure you reap the rewards as well.
So then what is fiber? Fiber consists of carbohydrates that are undigested therefore rendering your body unable to break them down. Our bodies instead of absorbing fiber passes it through our system undigested and eventually the fiber leaves the body intact. Fiber also helps to keep you feeling full longer. The two types of fiber you can eat today are soluble and insoluble. The difference between the two is minor in that soluble fibers form a gel when combined with water whereas insoluble does not. No particular type of fiber is better than the other they both perform different tasks.
The major benefit of soluble fiber is that it increases how much time is needed to empty out your stomach, this helps to slow down your body’s ability to absorb sugar. It’s extremely important for diabetics to eat soluble fiber regularly as it helps to manage blood sugar levels. It’s also important for those with high cholesterol as soluble fiber will attach itself to fatty tissues therefore contributing to lowering cholesterol. You can find this type of fiber in foods like beans, oatmeal, certain fruits, nuts, and many vegetables.
Insoluble fiber is what most of us think of when we think of fiber. This type of fiber is what keeps you regular. It also can help in the removal of certain toxins and waste that can quickly form in your colon and intestines. By doing so it allows your intestines to keep a balanced pH which is crucial to preventing colon cancer. It also has been known to help those that have hemorrhoids or even varicose veins. Insoluble fiber is typically found in more grain related foods like whole wheat grain, wheat bran, certain vegetables, and Brown Rice.
So let’s review: Fiber can help to satisfy your hunger longer, lower your cholesterol, prevent certain kinds of cancers, help to control diabetes, and keep your intestines squeaky clean. Those reasons should motivate you to get your fill of fiber daily!
There are many different kinds of Workout Routines available for weight loss. One of my personal favorites though is the Power 90 workout a great program designed to help you dance the weight off.