By now many know the benefits of a high fiber diet. Although there are many that do follow a high fiber diet the majority of people do not. I believe the reason why many people do not follow a high fiber diet is that they truely don't realise what fiber does within the body and how beneficial it is in keep them healthy

It is a known fact that fiber is necessity for an effective digestive system and for the elimination of waste products.The coarseness of fiber, and the fact that it is not digestible, gives it the capacity to cleanse the internal digestive track.

It can be said the one reason for the obesity problem in the world is that people are just not consuming enough fiber. So how much fiber is enough? Research has shown that the average person should be consuming about 30 grams of fiber every day. Most people have no idea how much fiber they consume daily and at best consume about half the recommended levels. Although many diets vary due to life style, cultures and habits it is easy to say that if one is not consuming at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day and if they are not eating whole wheat and grains from breads and cereals they are most likely not getting their recommended 30 grams of fiber.

Some may think that it's not a big concern. What one should be asking themselves is if I consumed more fiber would it have a beneficial effect on my life? If one is to look at their diet, they should be thinking, will this way of eating continue to keep me healthy, or if I started consuming more fiber could I be assisting my body in maintaining an better level of health.

So what is fiber anyway? Well fiber is the roughage or parts of the food that cannot be fully digested. There are two type of fiber, soluble and insoluble fiber. Each type of fiber plays a certain roll in your digestive track and aids your body in different ways.

When soluble fiber dissolves in water, it forms a jelly like substance which creates bulk within your digestive track. As this jelly substance moves through your small intestine is absorbs cholesterol from your digestive track and eliminates it through your waste. Since this cholesterol is pulled out of the digestive track the body then pulls cholesterol from the blood system regulating the digestive system and lowering your cholesterol level in your blood stream. Consuming soluble fiber can reduce you bad cholesterol by approximately fifteen percent.

Some ways to get soluble fiber is by eating foods like apples, pears, citrus, oat bran, psyllum and beans.

The other type of fiber, insoluble fiber, does not dissolve in water, it is actually the more course and bulky fiber that moves through and cleanses your digestive system.Insoluble fiber has the qualities to slow down the speed in which sugar is absorbed into your blood stream and is also great in treating constipation. This can help people who suffer with diabetes by regulating the sugar levels and preventing spikes of sugar overload.

Insoluble fiber can be found in such foods as wheat bran, cabbage and root vegetables.

Weight management is another sometimes overlooked benefit of a high fiber diet. Because of the bulk of fibrous food they will make you feel fuller faster which typically leads to eating less and in turn you consume less calories. There is also the benefit of weight loss due to the fewer calories and the efficiency of waste elimination. Some additional health benefits of a high fiber diet include the reduced risk of cancer, alleviates hemorrhoids, reduces or cures constipation, and the reduction of glucose levels.

So the benefits of a high fiber diet can not only help you feel better and avoid diseases but fiber can also help you look better by reducing weight and eliminating waste faster. By doing a few new things like consuming more fruits, both dried and fresh, eating more green leafy vegetables and reading labels to see how much soluble and insoluble fiber is in the foods you consume, one can

start to assist their body in functioning at an higher level of health.