Are You Eating Enough Fiber?
How do you know if you’re really eating enough fiber? Well, you might suffer from exhaustion, you might gain weight and you might experience blood sugar fluctuations. It’s recommended that you get at least 25 grams of fiber per day in your diet. That’s like eating five large apples every single day, or 80 baby carrots.
There are easier ways to get fiber, don’t worry.
But first let us explain what fiber is. Fiber is the indigestible part of plants that plays an important role in a colon-healthy diet, cholesterol and diabetes management, and weight loss. There are two types: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Both are good, but insoluble fiber promotes more movement of nutrients and good bacteria to your gut.
Prebiotics are a type of insoluble fiber that isn’t digestible by your body but can help good bacteria grow in your gut. Since your body doesn't digest these plant fibers, they can make it all the way to the lower digestive tract to act as a food source for the healthy bacteria in your gut. This helps slow absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, which prevents blood sugar spikes and extra snacking.
So… where can I find it?
Normally, whole foods or plant-based food will have the fiber you seek. Consuming cooked or raw fruits and vegetables, like berries, squash, broccoli and cauliflower, are just a few fiber superstars! Not to mention legumes and whole grains.
Another great way to make sure you’re getting enough fiber is with our Body Balance Powder and our Body Balance Powder in Mixed Berry. Packed with our proprietary 100% vegan superblend of prebiotic fiber, vitamins and minerals, this supplement was developed to help support balanced blood sugar levels, gut health and improve all-day energy. In one 8oz pack alone, you’re getting:
- 9 carrots worth of magnesium
- 5 cups of spinach worth of zinc
- 7 eggs worth of vitamin d
- 11 asparagus spears with of dietary fiber
So now we understand what fiber is, how much we need a day and where we can find it… but what are the benefits?
Benefit #1: Improves your bowel movements and bowel health
Dietary fiber increases the weight and size of your stool, while softening it making it easier to pass. The larger the stool, the quicker the transit time, and the easier it is for our intestines to move things along, while lower stool weight appears to negatively impact our colon health and may increase the risk of colon cancer, diverticulitis, appendicitis, and constipation.
Benefit #2: Lowers cholesterol levels
Soluble fiber found in beans, oats, flaxseed and oat bran lowers low-density lipoprotein, or "bad," cholesterol levels
Benefit #3: Controls blood sugar levels
Fiber can slow the absorption of sugar in your body and help improve/stabilize blood sugar levels so you’re avoiding energy crashes and cravings later on.
Benefit #4: Healthy weight management
High-fiber foods tend to be more filling, which means they have fewer calories for the same volume of food, so you're likely to eat less and stay fuller longer.
Benefit #5: Longer life
Studies suggest more fiber is associated with a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and all cancers. Nice!
Those are all pretty good reasons to consume more fiber. Repeat after us: A diet filled with fiber is a healthy one. So take the first step towards adding more fiber into your diet with us. We’re ready to join you on this journey towards a healthier lifestyle.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/4-warning-signs-your-diet-may-lack-fiber
https://www.nugofiber.com/blog/daily-fiber-intake-25-grams-looks-like/
