The Benefits Of A High Fiber Diet

Most people recognize the value in eating right. Following a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber has many benefits. Fiber is an integral part of the eating right puzzle. In today's fast paced world of a meal in minutes the important of eating high fiber foods sometimes becomes forgotten. Eating foods that are rich in fiber is essential to the health of your digestive tract. Fiber works in several ways to aid with the removal of waste from the body. When you consume an adequate amount of fiber each day your body is able to process the waste much easier. Fiber also works to soften stools and with constipation being a concern of many people, this is very important. There are many foods that are naturally high in fiber and incorporating these into your diet is a good idea. Whole grains are rich in fiber. These should be consumed each day and include items such as whole grain breads and muffins, whole grain pasta and cereals. There are several delicious breakfast cereals that are high in fiber. Having a bowl each morning along with a slice of whole grain bread or a serving of whole grain pasta later in the day will greatly increase your daily fiber intake. Another group of foods that are good sources of fiber are fruits and vegetables. Not all fruits and vegetables are high in fiber though. Berries are an especially rich in fiber. This includes raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. Pears and apples with their skins left on can also add to your daily fiber intake. If you prefer to add dry fruits to your diet than you'll want to look at items such as dried apricots and raisins. Sprinkling these in a salad or eating them as a snack is beneficial and contributes to how much fiber you are eating. Vegetables can also be full of fiber. Many types of beans can add a substantial amount of fiber to your diet. Adding red kidney beans to chili or dried beans to a soup is a tasty method of getting your family to eat more fiber. Broccoli, green peas and spinach all contain fiber too. Eating one or two servings of these vegetables each day helps you ensure that you are getting the fiber that your body needs. Another way that some people add to their fiber intake is to purchase one of the fiber rich drinks that are available. Many of these drinks are designed to aid with constipation. They are normally in the form of a powder and when the powder is added to water it becomes an appealing drink. For some people this is how they supplement their fiber intake each day. They consume the drink at the same time daily and it helps them to remain regular. The added benefit is that they are increasing their fiber intake in the easiest way possible. Fiber is important to your diet regardless of your age. Choose fiber rich foods that you enjoy and you will automatically reap the benefits of a fiber rich diet.