Benefits Of A High-fiber Diet

Dietary fiber is essential for good health. This material, also known as roughage is made up of the parts of plant foods the body is unable to absorb or digest. Fiber is not digested by the human body, but passes through the stomach intestines and out of the body, relatively intact. A diet high in fiber has many benefits.

Increasing dietary fiber can increase the size and weight of the stool while also softening it. A bulky stool is easier for a person to pass and decrease the chances of constipation. Individuals who suffer from loose stools may find fiber absorbs the water and helps to solidify it.

The high fiber diet also lowers individual's risk of developing diverticuar diseases and hemorrhoids. Some fiber undergoes fermentation while in the intestine. According to research, there is some evidence that this effect may prevent diseases of one's colon.

Soluble fiber, such as that found in oats, beans, flaxseed and oat bran has been found to lower the levels of total blood cholesterol. They lower the amount of LDL, known as bad cholesterol in the blood. There are also other benefits to one's heart heath for individual who consume fiber, including reduction of inflammation and blood pressure.

In individuals who have diabetes, soluble fiber helps to slow the absorption of sugars in the food. This helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Individuals with a family history of diabetes should consider a healthy diet including insoluble fiber in order to reduce the chances of developing this disease themselves.

Individuals attempting to achieve a healthy weight can also benefit from a diet high in fiber. These foods generally take longer to chew, which gives the body additional time to register that the individual is no longer hungry. It reduces the chances of overeating. The high fiber diet also makes one's meals feel larger. The food takes longer to digest, causing the individual to feel full longer. A high fiber diet is less likely to include high density foods, reducing the calories for a similar volume of food.

Eating a diet high in fiber can be difficult for individuals with a wheat allergy. However, fiber is found in all types of vegetable products. The foods served at gluten free restaurants can help one to meet his or her fiber goals without causing the allergic reaction often caused by foods containing wheat or contaminated by being prepared in the same location as these foods.