Fiberlady Reveals All For the New Year
Fiberlady here to refresh your memory and taste buds about high
fiber foods and a healthy high fiber diet. I will guess all of
your vows of intention for your New Year's resolution to
increase your fiber intake have slipped back into old habits of
white bread and donuts.
A tradition for the New Year's table has always been blackeyed
peas. They supposedly bring good luck and prosperity for the
coming year. But where they really provide prosperous benefits
is that they are regarded as a high fiber food. What a brilliant
beginning for a healthy New Year!
I shall remind you that a few small changes in your eating
habits, say about 25 to 30 grams total, could offer remarkable
health benefits. High fiber diets not only help ensure healthy
bowel movements, they also reduce our risk of certain cancers.
Fiber helps to reduce serum cholesterol and regulate blood
glucose levels.
A diet rich in high fiber foods is essential for your ultimate
health. Dietary fiber is vital for prevention or treatment of
diverticulitis, diabetes, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and
Crohn's disease. Studies have shown that certain conditions such
as constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis and high blood
pressure respond favorably to a high fiber diet.
Americans buy more laxative and stool softening agents than most
other cultures. If we would just add a little more fiber to our
diets, many of these products could be thrown out with the rest
of the waste (sorry). Wouldn't you rather be eating your fiber
in a wholesome delicious meal or snack rather than swallowing
some pale orange concoction in a glass of drinking water?
How hard is it to switch from refined foods to whole-grain
foods? Fiberlady guarantees it's as easy as changing from white
bread to whole-wheat bread and from white rice to brown rice.
Besides whole-grain products, there are other high fiber foods
such as legumes, lentils, flaxseed and bran. Most fruits and
vegetables are significantly high in fiber.
Nutritionists and scientists are recognizing dietary fiber as
something more than just a nutrient on our plate. At this time
in our evolution, we must be made keenly aware of the health
benefits of a high fiber diet.
You can make as many resolutions as you have time to break.
Maintaining your health by choosing high fiber foods should not
be a casual health consideration just because you need a
challenging resolution on January 1; it is a way of honoring
your body every day of the year. Increase those grams of fiber,
increase your longevity. But, please, don't do it for Fiberlady,
do it for yourself. Happy New Year!