Fiber For Health
Yummy Healthy Snacks from Wailana yoga
The importance of fiber
It’s difficult to emphasize how important fiber is. Grains, fruits, and veggies are all great sources of fiber. In fact, the need for fiber is just one more reason to eat your fruits and vegetables every day.
Good sources of fiber
There are so many sources of dietary fiber such as grains, cereals, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits like pineapple, roots like sweet potato, and so many vegetables. As we said before, meats and dairy products do not contain any dietary fiber, so it is important to eat some plant based foods ever day to get the fiber you need. Supplements can’t give you fiber either. Eating lots of fruits and veggies is the way to go. One quick way to get your dietary fiber needs is by making fruit and vegetable juices.
Understanding the importance of dietary fiber
In order to understand why dietary fiber is so important, it is a good idea to know what fiber is and what role it plays in digestion. While dietary fibers are not digestible, they play a huge role for ensuring your health. Fiber plays an important role in the digestion of food, and in the elimination of waste products as they travel through the body.
Soluble vs. insoluble
The two types of fiber are soluble fiber, and insoluble fiber. All plants contain both types of fiber, but some sources contain more of one than the other. Eating a variety of fiber rich foods on a daily basis will ensure you get adequate levels of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
High fiber foods
Insoluble fibers regulate elimination and prevent colon and rectal cancer. Some great sources of insoluble fiber are: wheat bran, whole grain products, sweet potato, and almost all greens. Broccoli, kale, cauliflower, carrots, peas, and so many other vegetables are also high in fiber. The skins of fruits are also rich in insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, has shown promise in reducing levels of cholesterol in the blood, and at reducing the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream. Soluble fiber is abundant in dried peas, lentils, beans, barley, oat bran, and in many fruits and vegetables.
How much fiber should I eat?
Most dietitians recommend you to take 21 to 25 grams of dietary fiber everyday. For men, the recommendation is 30 to 38 grams of fiber each day. It may be easier said than done. It helps to know which foods are high in fiber in order to boost your daily fiber consumption. A great and easy way to get your fiber is through fresh fruit and vegetable juice. Wailana Yoga has over 60 wonderful fruit and vegetable juices you will surely love. In the case of packaged foods like breads and crackers, the fiber content will be listed as part of the nutritional label. In the case of fruits and vegetables, there are charts which show the fiber content of an average size piece. Some grocery stores post this information, and it is also widely available on the internet.
Go slow
When increasing dietary fiber, it is best to make the increase gradual. A sudden jump in dietary fiber can lead to bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort. In additionThis information is readily available on the internet so that the fiber can work properly. When choosing breads and cereals, it is best to go with healthier whole grains. In general, the less processing, the healthier the foods. Wai Lana yoga products has many fruit and veggie smoothies, healthy snacks and bars.
And finally, eating a wide variety of foods to ensure that you get plenty of fiber.