5 Reasons Why You Need More Fiber in Your Diet

Fiber. Maybe you’ve heard it in conversations lately, or maybe you haven’t. (Believe me, it’s a pretty hot topic in the nutrition space.)

Whether you talk about Fiber or not, the bottom line is that most people need to increase their fiber intake to hit the recommended levels. Adequate dietary fiber levels for adults is 25 to 38 grams per day. Are your dietary habits within that range?

Higher amounts of fiber can be found in plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. With the busy lives we lead, it can sometimes be challenging to get enough fiber from our food choices alone. Fortunately, USANA has an excellent fiber product called MySmart™Shake Fibergy Plus to help boost your fiber intake.

Let’s discuss some reasons why adequate fiber is an important diet goal and what some of the main benefits are.

Keeping it Regular

Alright. First thing’s first. Bowel regularity. There, I said it. Now let’s talk about it.

Fiber aids in normal bowel regularity, which helps move wastes and toxins out of the colon quickly and efficiently. If you don’t eat enough fiber or drink enough fluids, you could experience bowel irregularity (constipation). Not good.*

Growing up, my mother always referred to this concept as eating enough “roughage.” I won’t go into all of the details of those conversations, but the idea stuck with me. We need to eat foods high in fiber that will help clear us out and keep us healthy.*

This is probably the main concept that comes to mind when you think about fiber, but there are many other benefits too.
  
Get Both Types
Diets high in soluble and insoluble fiber are important for digestive health. But what does that mean? What is “soluble” and “insoluble” fiber?

SOLUBLE FIBER can be found in foods like oatmeal, nuts, beans, and fruit. It absorbs water and turns into gel in the digestive tract. This helps soften stool, making it easier to pass. Soluble fiber also has great benefits for heart health.

INSOLUBLE FIBER can be found in foods like whole-grains and vegetables. This type of fiber helps promote regularity. It also helps control hunger pangs, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.

 Fibergy Plus contains a blend of both soluble and insoluble fiber, so we’ve got you covered.

Protect Your Most Important Muscle

Nope. I’m not talking about your biceps. Not your pectorals. Not even your glutes. Your HEART is the aim here.

Fiber not only promotes good digestive health but it is also important for the maintenance of heart health. Specifically, soluble fiber binds to cholesterol and helps remove it from the body.*
The FDA states that low-fat diets, rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables, may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors.*

The heart is one of the hardest working muscles in your body, so boost that fiber intake so you can take care of it better, and it will take care of you.

Feed Your Microbiome

Feed my what?! Don’t get freaked out. You may have heard about this. You have trillions of bacteria in your body at all times called the “microbiome.” In fact, many types of microbes are good for your body and even essential for basic functions like digestion.

You need to eat foods high in fiber to support these tiny, helpful organisms living within your body if you want to maximize the benefits they provide. Dr. Rhonda Patrick is a huge proponent to getting plenty of fiber in your diet to support these microbes:

“You also need to consume enough fiber on a regular basis so that the microbiome in your system is fed regularly. Most foods we eat (fats, proteins) are digested and absorbed fairly early on in the digestive tract. The microbiome is near the end of the digestive cycle, and they need food high in fiber that will make it to them.”

Feel Fuller Longer

Aside from these important benefits listed above, did you know that eating foods high in fiber actually helps you feel fuller, longer?

Do you find yourself snacking a lot throughout the day? If those are healthy snacks, like fruits and vegetables, then that probably isn’t a bad thing. But those healthy choices aren’t always within reach, so you might find yourself grabbing a sugar-filled option instead.

Try eating foods high in fiber during your main meals, and see if that impacts your snacking habits. Also, consider adding MySmart Fibergy Plus to drinks or even incorporating it in the food you eat. The high fiber content will leave you feeling satisfied, making it easier to skip unhealthy snacks throughout the day.

Eating a diet high in fiber should be a priority on your Nutrition To-Do List. To ensure you’re hitting those fiber goals, MySmart Fibergy Plus is a great addition to keep on-hand.

How do you make sure that you’re getting enough fiber? What are some tasty ways that you add Fibergy to your recipes for a fiber boost?


Article by: Austin Catmull June 23, 2016  USANA Health Sciences