What Is Fiber and Why It’s Important to Your Health? The human body is made up of about 60-65% water (depending on your sex and age), so keeping it hydrated is important for every organ, muscle and nerve. Fiber is one of the best ways to keep your body hydrated. Your body needs fiber to function properly and fiber-rich foods are important for digestive health. That’s why fiber is so important for everyone and why it’s important to eat more fiber!
Where does fiber come from? It comes from plants, of course! In fact, fiber is one of the three essential macronutrients your body needs, along with protein and carbohydrates. Luckily, all plant foods contain fiber, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Even though fiber is abundant in plant foods, the body doesn’t process fiber at the same rate as carbohydrates from foods we eat regularly. So, to get all of the benefits of fiber, you need to eat it as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
What is fiber?
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found in plant foods. It’s important to your health because it helps keep your digestive system working well, which can help control things like constipation and irregularity. Fiber-rich foods are also essential for maintaining a healthy weight, lowering cholesterol levels and managing blood sugar levels among many other benefits.
What does it do? Fiber is one of the best ways to keep your body hydrated as it absorbs excess water and waste from food in the gut. Without enough fiber, you could suffer from digestive disorders like constipation or irregularity, both of which can lead to serious health problems. Fiber-rich foods also help regulate cholesterol levels in the body by removing excess cholesterol from the body. Plus, fiber can control blood sugar levels by slowing down digestion, which keeps blood sugar stable after eating carbohydrates or sugars.
Why is fiber important?
Fiber is important because it promotes the healthy functioning of our digestive systems, which is essential for good health. Fiber helps to keep our intestines moving and supports a healthy weight by making us feel fuller longer. It also helps to clean out toxins in the body, so we’re less likely to develop diseases like cancer or heart disease. Eating more fiber-rich foods also promotes good blood cholesterol levels and stabilizes insulin levels in your body. Your body needs fiber to function properly, and fiber-rich foods are important for digestive health. That’s why fiber is so important for everyone!
Sources of fiber
There are a lot of sources of fiber, but these are the most popular:
- Whole-wheat bread
- Oatmeal
- Brown rice
- Legumes like kidney beans and black-eyed peas
- Fruits like apples and oranges
- Vegetables like broccoli, tomatoes, and carrots
How to add more fiber to your diet
The best way to add more fiber to your diet is to eat a variety of healthy plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. If you want to up your intake of fiber, even more, consider adding chia seeds to your morning smoothie or oatmeal. Chia seeds are a rich source of fiber, and they help absorb excess water in the intestines that can contribute to constipation.
You can also try adding more legumes (lentils, black beans) as well as oatmeal and brown rice into your diet. Fiber-rich foods make your food more filling and keep you feeling fuller longer than low-fiber choices. And if you’re looking for ways to get more fiber without eating more calories or fat, then switch from white pasta noodles or white rice to whole wheat pasta or brown rice instead. You’ll not only be getting a healthier form of carbohydrate but also an extra boost of fiber!
The best ways to take fiber
Fiber is abundant in plant foods, but it doesn’t process at the same rate as carbohydrates from other food groups. Eating fiber-rich foods, like vegetables or fruits, is a good way to add fiber to your diet.
- But if you’re looking for a quicker way to get all the benefits of fiber, here are some ways: Drink plenty of water every day! If you don’t drink enough water, you’ll have less fiber because a lack of hydration reduces the number of fluids that come out through your stool.
- Add a fiber supplement to your diet! There are many different types of supplements that contain both soluble and insoluble fibers. It’s important that these supplements specifically state they’re “high in fiber.”
3 Ways to Benefit from Fiber Supplements
Just because you’re eating plenty of fiber-rich foods doesn’t mean you’re getting enough. Eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is always a good thing, but it can be difficult to do when your schedule is busy. When you don’t eat right, your body can struggle to process the nutrients it needs for optimal functioning. If this applies to you, try adding fiber supplements to your diet!
Some people are diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten intolerances which means they can’t eat certain types of foods that are high in fiber like wheat products. If that’s the case for you, then taking fiber supplements is a great way to stay healthy and get all the benefits from dietary fiber. A third reason why some people might want to consider getting their fiber from supplements instead of food is if they’re on a weight loss plan. It’s just easier on your stomach when you take a supplement than when you try to fit in an apple with dinner every night!
Summary
It’s important to keep the body hydrated, and fiber is one of the best ways to do it! Fiber comes from plants, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. To get the most benefits of fiber in your diet, you need to eat it as part of a healthy balanced diet.