Eating dietary fiber is your way into a healthy life.

People nowadays are very much concerned of their health using different means in preventing sickness - from exercising to special body relaxation techniques to dieting. In order to feel good, one must eat the right food as nutritionists would say. People are familiar about the need for enough fiber in their diet. But few people understand the need of dietary fiber - or where to get it. What is fiber?

The outer layer of plants contains a virtually indigestible substance called fiber. It is a special type of carbohydrate that passes through our digestive system without breaking it down to nutrients. Dietary fiber contains the plants nutritious parts, especially those rich in starch, vitamins, minerals, and sugar. It is important to note that only plants produce fiber and that carbohydrates are our main source of energy for all body functions. Fiber supplements are often recommended when a person cannot get enough fiber through a healthy diet or when a person suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s Disease. Physicians recommend adding fiber to their diet through natural sources found in food. In some cases however, additional fiber supplements may be required.

There are essentially a lot of inexpensive fiber supplements available in the market. Natural sources of dietary fiber include whole grains, legumes, and certain fruits and vegetables. Cooked split peas give a hefty 16 grams per cup, and kidney beans offer over 13 grams per cup. These two are some of the best sources of dietary fiber. Other excellent natural sources are raspberries offering nine grams of dietary fiber per cup. Whole-wheat spaghetti is another excellent choice, offering six grams of dietary fiber per cup. Oat bran and broccoli only have slightly more than five grams of dietary fiber per cup. It is strongly suggested that those who have dietary restrictions and can’t get the right dietary fiber through their food have a regular intake of food supplements which contains methylcellulose, polycarbophil, and psyllium. Psyllium is probably the most recognizable type of fiber supplement. This particular fiber causes stool to soften and bulk up. Therefore, it helps to calm chronic diarrhea and ease constipation. However, psyllium can cause excessive gas. Methylcellulose, on the other hand, causes less gas. This kind of fiber is taken from the entirely indigestible parts of plants. This aids in bulking up the stool because it passes unchanged through the digestive tract. Fiber supplements used to be available only in powdered form, but now they are available in pill form as well. This is a convenient way to take fiber supplements for many find it unpleasant taking chunky fiber in water.

In conclusion, to start eating the way out into a healthy life, add dietary fiber into your diet. Getting more fiber in your diet doesn't have to mean a radical change. In fact, it's best to start slowly, so as to avoid constipation from getting too much fiber all at once. Many fiber-depleted foods in the diet can be replaced by high-fiber alternatives.

Submitted on January 16, 2014