Are you frequently constipated? Does your doctor tell you that your serum cholesterol level is too high? Well, like a good exorcism, the power of fiber can compel your body to discard the things that are causing you problems. I'm talking about the foods with natural fiber, silly, not the fiber you get with fiber optics (although I'm sure a good snaking with a fiber optic cable would probably work as well as fiber foods, but it certainly wouldn't feel too good).
Foods High in Natural Fiber
I'm not going to produce a list for you. You can search elsewhere and get a list of high fiber foods more comprehensive than I'm willing to repeat here. I will point out a couple or three fiber sources, however, that almost anyone can benefit from.
Oatmeal was popular for a long time after fiber nutrition became a hot subject. Oatmeal is not the grain with the highest fiber content. That distinction belongs to wheat bran, what you normally find in bran cereals (like raisin bran or shredded wheat cereals). Cereals made from grain are filling and easy to eat. Even someone like me, waiting for my gums to shrink enough to continue with my cosmetic dentistry plans, can eat it.
Beans, beans, the magical fruit (not really a fruit), the more you eat the more you toot! There's a good reason for this. Most beans are high in fiber content. Kidney beans, pinto beans, red beans and other beans similar to them are all high fiber foods. The rule of thumb is: If it makes you fart, it's good for the heart. Think about that the next time you eat beans, or beans with chili. Even bean burritos will cause fart games to commence.
Animal products and byproducts have the lowest amount of fiber even if the meat is tough to eat. We're talking about fiber, not fibrous tissue. If you like to drink fruit juices, more power to you because most fruits contain fiber and fruit juice is easy to drink and digest. If you're like me, and you prefer to drink coffee or tea, then consider replacing some of your daily doses of those drinks with fruit juice drinks. Of course, it has to be real fruit juice and not any of that flavored imitation crap (pardon the pun if you're constipated).
Health Benefits of Fiber Foods
If you suffer from frequent constipation, having a cholesterol level that's too high, the heartbreak of hemorrhoids or some forms of cancer, you need to make sure you exercise (not exorcise) a high fiber diet. Speaking of hemorrhoids, while diarrhea can cause hemorrhoids, natural bowel movements due to a high fiber diet can prevent them. How's that for two sides of the same coin?
If you can't eat the foods that contain the fiber you need, for whatever reason, then you should seek out alternative sources of fiber. There are fiber drinks and fiber supplements available at most grocery stores and they're not expensive.
Trust me when I tell you, you do not want to see a doctor when you're having bowel problems if all you need is to add fiber to your diet. It's no fun having things shoved down your throat or up your rear end in attempts to find the source of the blockage. It's so much simpler to change your diet.
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This article is published as: The Power of Fiber Compels you!
"Beans, beans, the magical fruit (not really a fruit), the more you eat the more you toot!" hahaha
Fart Games? Really? You're such a guy! haha
From what I've heard, Beano works well for people who have umm difficulty digesting fiber foods that cause "tooting", but I've never tried it so I can't really vouch for it's effectiveness.
Natural fiber sources are better for your health, such as the foods you listed in your short list of fiber sources. Fiber supplements are good for people who have an intolerance that causes stomach or digestive problems from eating too much fiber.
Oatmeal and shredded wheat cereal are pretty good sources, but different kinds of beans are even better. Plus, beans or other types of fiber sources help make you feel full and aids in weight loss.
Now I have to go remind myself what foods are included on the complete list of high fiber foods. Bran cereal, bran muffins etc. Fortunately there isn't a bran coffee (ick) since you and I both drink so much coffee and tea. By the way, coffee seems to have the same umm effect as high fiber foods. ;)
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A teaspoon of baking powder, mixed with beans, will prevent flatulence.
Coffee probably has fiber in it, since a coffee bean comes from a fruit, but I can't confirm it.
Oatbran has been touted to lower cholesterol because of a substance called beta glucan. Supposedly, cholesterol binds itself to the beta glucan which then passes out of the body. I think there was an oat bran craze back in the 80's but sort of just faded away.
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Not sure I can own up to all of those complaints but thanks for the tips, fibre is definetly my friend! You made a serious topic bearable.
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All this talk of fart games makes me want to go to the toilet!
Unfortunately as we get older we need to start thinking about the benefits of fibre and what it can do for you. Thanks for the article.
I loved this post, especially the title. You have me rolling on the floor this morning!! Time to fire up my oatmeal and flax :)
I used to suffer from quite bad constipation on a regular basis. It's very uncomfortable if you have it. I think I've tried almost every kind of laxative on the market. The problem with these is that they don't solve the underlying problem.
It wasn't until I discovered food combining that my constipation finally stopped.
Food combining is not a new idea and first appeared over 100 years ago. It works because different types of food trigger the release of different types of digestive enzymes, some acidic and some alkaline. On their own, each type of enzyme does a great job of breaking down foods – just as nature intended. But when both types of enzymes are released at the same time that's when constipation problems can occur.
It's because the acid & alkaline enzymes neutralize each other, inhibiting the digestive process. The food doesn't get broken down properly and hey presto, there's a logjam and constipation is the result.
A healthy diet is very important for our wellbeing! I love this topic.. especially when it comes to fiber and foods such as vegetables and fruits!
Thanks,
Dylan