High Fiber foods are fruits, vegetables and grains. Fiber is a complex structure that keeps high fiber produce and grains from falling apart. Fiber is a subclass of carbohydrates. It consists mostly of cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, pectin, and mucilage. Processed foods, foods in packages, and meat do not contain fiber.
There are two kinds of fiber - soluble and insoluble - and you need both to get the maximum benefit of fiber. The soluble fiber dissolves in water and helps your body,
"Slowly absorb sugar in the intestines "Regulate your blood sugar levels "Rid your body of excess cholesterol
You can find high fiber, soluble foods in oatmeal, rice and oat bran, beans, peas, seeds, nuts, and grains. Pectin is soluble fiber found in the outer skins and rinds of vegetables and fruits, whereas, Mucilage, a formed soluble fiber, is found in seeds and nuts.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and gives you health benefits such as,
"Cleaning out your colon walls as it passes through your colon "Activating peristaltic action as it moves through your colon "Reducing the risk of colon diseases, including certain types of cancer
Insoluble fiber is found in green leafy lettuce, in many vegetables, in the skins of fruits, and in brans of different kinds.
In the stomach, fiber bonds are broken apart so nutrients and fiber can do their magic in your stomach, small intestine, colon, and anus. Once food is completely digested in the small intestine, fiber moves into the colon to complete its cycle in your body. If you have eaten enough fiber during a meal, your stools will have a certain shape, size, color and consistency. Fiber attracts water into the colon, so drink plenty of water when eating fiber from grains. When you eat fruit and vegetable fiber these foods contain over 70% water. It is recommended that you eat at least 25 grams of fiber per day.
Eating the right amount of high fiber foods is tied to your overall health. In the past, no one knew much about fiber. It was thought that it had no value as it entered and exited the body. But now, we know that if you don't eat high fiber foods, you will live a shorter life and you will create numerous different diseases. Here are some of diseases that are related to not eating enough high fiber foods.
"Heart disease "Diabetes "Appendicitis "Breast cancer "Colitis "Prostate cancer "Gastrointestinal disorders "Hemorrhoids "Hiatus hernia "Ulcers "High cholesterol "High blood pressure "All types of colon diseases
These are only a few diseases that you could develop. Do you see any of the diseases in this list that people come down with as they age? Did they eat enough fiber?
Many people say they don't like vegetables so they don't eat them. Eating meat, processed foods, or even bread without vegetables leads to constipation and eventually to a toxic colon. A toxic colon then leads to diseases.
Eat fruits and their juices in the morning for breakfast. Eat fruits between meals as a snack. Eat vegetables with your meat at lunch and dinner. Eat vegetables any time you eat bread. Eat these high fiber foods during these time and you will see how much better you feel and how much longer you will live. Will you eat enough fiber? Please do.
Digestive experts are often quoted saying, "Death begins in the colon." Could they be right? According to a discussion of 57 leading physicians held before the Royal Society of Medicine of Great Britain, it is true. Their conclusion was that nearly every known chronic disease is either directly or indirectly linked to the more than 35 bacterial poisons absorbed through the intestines. Technically called alimentary toxemia, it is also referred to as a toxic colon.
It is likely that most people wouldn't connect their headaches, depression, or heart trouble to a toxic colon, but in fact, this is exactly what the statement by the Royal Society of Medicine suggests. In order to appreciate this connection, and see why constipation is such a dangerous condition, it is important to understand how the colon works.
The colon, also known as the large intestine or lower bowel, is an approximately five-foot long tube that is found at the final portion of our digestive tract. By the time food wastes reach the large intestine, the majority of nutrients have been absorbed, and what is left is primarily fibrous waste and toxins destined for elimination. The colon is benefited by the fiber in our diet, and we are encouraged by digestive experts to eat between 20-35 grams of it per day. Unfortunately, most Americans get about half of that, and the regularity of their bowels is suffering.
We can view the colon as the sewer system of the body, as it effectively 'flushes' waste from our system at an optimal rate of 2-3 times every day. Most naturopathic physicians define constipation as fewer than 2 bowel movements per day. When we are constipated, wastes are able to stick around longer than necessary and be acted upon by pathogenic bacteria. The Royal Society of Medicine refers to the byproducts of this interaction as bacterial poisons. When putrefied material stays in the colon longer than it should, these toxins have more time to enter the bloodstream through the intestinal cells that line the colon.
When digestion is poor and bowel movements are infrequent, toxins can enter the bloodstream and settle into the tissues, causing a wide range of complaints, from headaches to fatigue. Additionally, constipation can lead to a build-up of toxic material on the intestinal walls, resulting in reduced nutrient absorption or malabsorption, which deprives the body of nutrients needed to create energy and vitality.
Fortunately, you have the power to improve the health of your intestinal tract through colon cleansing. Working with your body's own natural elimination processes, you can promote the detoxification of your bowel, and achieve 2-3 bowel movements per day. One of the easiest options we have to promote this process is through increased consumption of high fiber foods.
Fiber is the indigestible parts of plants. There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is found in foods such as fruit pectin. It dissolves in water, forming a gel, and absorbs water soluble materials such as cholesterol and excess toxins. It also provides food for intestinal flora, promoting a healthy intestinal environment. By absorbing liquids, soluble fiber can also help form our stool. Insoluble fiber is also known as roughage. This is found in foods such as bran and fibrous fruits and vegetables. This type of fiber provides bulk to the bowel, sweeping clean the intestinal wall, and helping to promote regularity. Experts everywhere are calling on us to eat more fiber so we can begin to receive the benefits to a healthy digestive system. By increasing our fiber consumption, we can promote a healthy colon and the elimination of toxins. With the small amount of fiber people consume every day, supplementation is an easy and convenient solution.
Both Rudy Silva & Brenda Watson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rudy Silva has sinced written about articles on various topics from Constipation Causes, Blood Pressure and Acid Reflux. Rudy Silva, Nutritionist, has written a popular comprehensive e-book on how to eliminate constipation and keep your colon healthy and free of disease. Go here to learn more,. Rudy Silva's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Brenda Watson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Medicine, Detoxification and High Cholesterol. Brenda Watson is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Naturopathic Doctor and president of RenewLife Formulas. She has been helping people achieve better digestive health for over twenty five years.. Brenda Watson's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.