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Copyright 2006 Adam Kessler
When you go to the doctor does he/she ask you about how much fiber you are
getting? It seems that fiber is being discussed as a possible solution to
everything, including the ozone layer. Okay, maybe not the ozone problem, but
it is looking like if you get enough fiber in your diet, your chances reduce
dramatically of acquiring many diseases you could be susceptible to as you get
older.
What exactly does fiber help to prevent? Studies have shown that a diet with
plenty of fiber in it can reduce the chances of heart disease (by cutting
cholesterol), diabetes (by slowing the release of sugars from foods into the
blood), diverticulosis, and other diseases. The thought that it helps prevent
cancer are conflicting, but by eating the foods you need to acquire fiber
(fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) you also get a lot of vitamins and
minerals that are very beneficial to the body. Bonus, baby!!!
Basically, what fiber does is go through the intestines and pick up all the
wastes and toxins along the way. It passes through quickly and doesn’t allow
the waste time to settle and develop into health problems such as cancer or
tumors. Also, if you want weight loss, the intake of fiber helps give you a
fullness feeling and as a result you don’t want to eat as much. Thus, because
you’re not eating as much, you lose weight. Pretty nice, huh!
Most Americans get on average 10 to 15 grams a day of fiber, but it is
usually on the low end. Experts say that you should up that amount to around 30
to 35 grams a day for optimal cancer prevention and health benefits. A lot of
Americans eat diets that are high in saturated fat, protein, and processed
carbohydrates. You really can’t find a lot of fiber in those types of foods.
Some Americans couldn’t identify a fruit or a vegetable if it were in front of
them. So the obvious question would be, how does one change his/her diet to get
enough fiber?
Good sources of fiber can be found in the following sources: apples, citrus
fruits, strawberries, oats, oatmeal, potatoes, pasta, and dried beans. These
are soluble fibers, meaning they dissolve in water. These fibers help lower the
cholesterol and give you that fullness feeling mentioned earlier. Other sources
of fiber that help remove wastes and possibly prevent cancer are: whole wheat
pasta, whole wheat grains, and crunchy vegetables. These are insoluble fibers
meaning they don’t dissolve in water. They help with waste removal as well as
possible cancer prevention. Really try to avoid foods that are processed such
as white breads and white pastas.
All in all you want to make sure you get a lot of fiber in your diet, but
don’t neglect your proteins and carbohydrates so you can really get a balanced
diet and acquire the nutrients your body needs to run efficiently. If you are
looking for fiber supplements go to http://fitnessplanning.com/supplements.htm and look at the information on BiosLife2. Don’t neglect the fiber sources
mentioned above, but if you can’t get enough from those sources, BiosLife2 can
definitely help you out.
Adam Kessler is President of Fitness Planning Consultants in Columbus, Ohio.
He operates Sports Conditioning Specialists. Find out about free health and
fitness news and sign up for their free newsletter at
http://fitnessplanning.com
Article Source: http://articleson.com
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