Dietary fiber for health

People who are dieting to lose weight often find it helpful to include foods containing high amount of fiber in their diets. These foods are usually low in calories and so help to produce a feeling of fullness.

What the hell is fiber?!
Fiber is the portion of plant material that we can't digest. In other words, dietary fiber is that portion of plants that can't be digested by the non-microbial enzymes of the human digestive tract. Fiber consists of  many substances, such as complex carbohydrates.

What types of fiber exist?
Soluble and insoluble are two kinds of dietary fiber. Both are important for proper bowel function.

1. Soluble fiber: Soluble fiber dissolves in water, forming a gel in the intestines. The best sources of  soluble fiber are oatmeal, barley, kidney beans, and other fruits and vegetables.
2. Insoluble fiber: Insoluble fiber passes through the digestive system almost intact, adding bulk to the stool and acting as a sponge to absorb water. It can be found in wheat bran, whole grains, many vegetables and skins of fruit.

Some of the main health benefits of eating dietary fiber

• Soluble fiber helps lowering serum cholesterol levels by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol.
• Fiber helps to regulate or slow glucose absorption.
• Fiber adds bulk to stool, keeping stool soft and the bowels moving regularly.
• For weight loss: Both types of fiber (especially insoluble fiber) make you feel full, without adding a lot of calories. Fiber-rich foods tend to be low in fat too.
• Fiber-rich foods contain phytochemicals, known to reduce cancer risks. Fiber may also help detoxify cancer-causing substances.

Foods with fiber have lots of vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. Fiber also helps our bowels to function properly on a regular basis, and to prevent either diarrhea or constipation

How much fiber should we have each day?
The recommended amount is 20-35 grams/day. Some people can tolerate even more. If you don’t eat a lot of fiber now, increase fiber by small amounts (a few grams) each day. This will help to decrease uncomfortable symptoms of bloating, gas and diarrhea. Do not forget to drink plenty of water, in order to prevent constipation.

May I use herbal weight loss supplement that is rich in fiber?
Indeed yes. In fact, many nutritionists and dieticians today do recommend the use of fiber-based dietary supplements for the purpose of preventing obesity or excessive weight gain. Proactol Plus is, perhaps, one of its kind and unique purely organic fiber based herbal supplement with a dual mode of action:

1. It works by binding with the fat in the food you eat, preventing excess absorption of fat
2. It works by naturally suppressing your appetite as it contains significant quantities of soluble fiber that dissolves in water, forming a gel in the stomach and intestines. This gives you a feeling of “being fuller” and you are naturally refrained from overeating.