In this country, the fast food culture has created a nation of overweight people with arteries clogged with fats processed sugars. Fresh foods like fruits and vegetables have practically disappeared from our diets making many of us severely deficient in fiber.
The Surgeon General, the American Dietetic Association and the National Cancer Institute all recommend that adults eat 20-35 grams of fiber every day to achieve optimal health. Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (or S.A.D.) which typify the diet of most Americans, lacks roughage or fiber and consists of high fat meals and refined forms of carbohydrates. This makes a lot of us severely deficient in fiber thereby preventing us from enjoying the benefits it offers such as helping us maintain healthy cholesterol levels which translates to a having a healthy cardiovascular system. In the digestive system, fiber does this by drawing water soluble fats like excess cholesterol to itself, traps it and flushes it out of the body through a healthy bowel movement.
Aside from contributing to good cardiovascular health, fiber also helps in the maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels. By slowing down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar, blood sugar levels are stabilized the favourable effect of which is that cravings for sugary snacks and high carbohydrate foods is lessened.
There are studies in which a connection was established between high fiber foods or roughage and the decreased incidence of colon diseases such as Crohn's, Colitis and cancer. Insoluble fiber is often called "nature's broom" because it sweeps away the waste matter lining the walls of the intestine thereby creating a healthy environment for digestion.
During the past few years, fiber has been steadily increasing in popularity as an excellent weight loss aid. Nutritional facts reveal that high fiber foods contain very little calories. What this means is that you can eat bigger servings of high fiber foods and not worry about taking in too many calories. At the same time fibrous foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grain are very filling. In addition to creating a feeling of fullness in your stomach, they also encourage the release of satiety hormones thus you end up eating less and feel full for a longer period of time.
People on the S.A.D. can begin a shift to a better diet by eating more fiber. For starters, follow the "Five a Day" recommendation which means eat five servings of fruit and vegetables daily. Work towards having more than five for optimum health. Taking a fiber supplement is another way to boost your fiber intake. Making these simple changes to increase the amount of fiber you consume will make a big difference in your state of health and well-being. That's what having the fiber advantage is all about.
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