Fiber Rich Foods

Fiber is,no doubt, one of the most healthy food elements that we can include in our daily diet. A lot has been said about its benefits and there is no study that can disprove claims that it is good for our bodies. Fiber-rich food such as fruits and vegetables have been around to help us achieve good health and well-being whether for day-to-day health maintenance or as a way to prevent the occurrence of certain diseases. We can reap its benefits more fully when we know how to manage our fiber intake as effectively as possible while the element offers a positive contribution to our lives in general.

Eating a variety of sources is among the ways that we can maximize the benefits of fiber. For example, we know rice is a good source of this food element, but it is not the only source and it would be better for us to widen our food choices. This is so that we can also enjoy the benefits of other nutrients that come with a whole variety of foods that have both fiber and other healthy nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins and the like. As an alternative to having rice everyday, we can substitute it for oatmeal or wheat bread on other days.

The processed foods that we take in must also be reduced. Although they are devoid of any real nutritional benefits, eating them often can take away our appetite and fool us into believing that we are full. With this, we become less interested in high-fiber foods. Another reason why we should avoid processed foods are scientific evidence that these are highly addictive. This means the more we eat them, the more we will crave for them and less we think that we need more healthy food.

The benefits of fiber are inarguable but we still cannot take things in a strike and consume high volumes of fiber-rich foods at once. We have a tendency to develop flatulence and feel bloated when we do so. This is because of the water-absorbing quality of this food element. Hence, it is a good idea to increase our fiber intake gradually over a period of time.

The ideal fiber consumption of an average individual is about 25 - 35 grams per day. People who have digestive diseases such as diverticulitis are usually prescribed fiber supplements so their digestive systems have to endure less of the heaviness but still reap fiber's other benefits. These supplements are to be taken with 2-3.5 grams per tablespoon dissolved in eight ounces of water. If not, it is best to eat high-fiber foods in their most natural state.

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