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.

Copyright 2006 Adam Kessler