Importance of Fiber in your diet

We all know the importance of fiber. Fiber not only promotes health, it also helps reduce the risk for some chronic diseases. For instance, fiber prevents constipation and hemorrhoids.

Another major reason the importance of fiber is so critical in our diet: it’s known to prevent some cancers especially colon and breast cancer. In addition, fiber may help lower the LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) and the total cholesterol therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. Furthermore, fiber can help lower blood sugar therefore help better manage diabetes. Only plants produce fiber. No matter how chewy or "tough" animal products may be, they don’t contain fiber.

• Insoluble fiber is mainly made up of plant cell walls, and it cannot be dissolved in water. It has a good laxative action.

• Soluble fiber is made up of polysaccharides (carbohydrates that contain three or more molecules of simple carbohydrates), and it does dissolve in water. It has a beneficial effect on body chemistry, such as lowering blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

So you can see the benefits of fiber in your diet. Not only for regularity, but for the many other health reasons stated above.

Suggestion: When you consume plant foods like vegetables, fruits and beans, you naturally get significant amounts of fiber naturally. Eat as much vegetables and fruits as you can. A good fiber additive is acacia, it’s natural and has the same qualities as the over the counter fiber additives (psyllium husk) but without the flatulence causing side effects they may have.

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