What are the Health Benefits of Fiber?

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What Are the Health Benefits of Fiber?

 

 

What Are The Health Benefits Of Fiber?

 

Provided by YourMedicalSource.com

 

 

Fiber is helpful to the body in many ways:

 

Relieving constipation and hemorrhoids

Preventing certain diseases

Keeping weight under control

Avoiding And Relieving Constipation

 

Fiber can absorb large amounts of water in the bowels, and this

makes stools softer and easier to pass. Anyone starting a higher-

fiber diet will notice the difference in stool bulk.

 

In almost all cases, increasing fiber in the diet will relieve

constipation within hours or days.

Because stools are easier to pass, less straining is necessary, and

this can help relieve hemorrhoids.

Need To Know:

 

Constipation can have other causes, however, so you should consult

your doctor if it is not relieved by increased fiber.

 

 

 

Nice To Know:

 

On average, it takes 39 hours in women and 31 hours in men for food

to pass through the colon and out of the body. This time varies a

lot from person to person, depending on personality, state of mind,

and fiber intake. Usually, the effect of fiber is to speed up this

process.

 

 

 

Preventing Certain Diseases

 

Getting enough fiber in the diet can lower the risk of developing

certain conditions:

 

Heart disease. Evidence is now growing to support the notion that

foods containing soluble fiber (such as oats, rye barley, and beans)

can have a positive influence on cholesterol, triglycerides, and

other particles in the blood that affect the development of heart

disease. Some fruits and vegetables (such as citrus fruits and

carrots) have been shown to have the same effect.

Cancer. The passage of food through the body is speeded up when

fiber is eaten. Some experts believe this may prevent harmful

substances found in some foods from affecting the colon and may

protect against colon cancer. (However, a recent study conducted by

Harvard University concluded that eating high-fiber food did not

appear to protect people from colon cancer.) Other types of cancer

that are linked with overnutrition and may be prevented by a fiber-

rich diet include breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.

Diabetes. Adding fiber to the diet helps regulate blood sugar

levels, which is important in avoiding diabetes. In addition, some

people with diabetes can achieve a significant reduction in their

blood sugar levels and may find they can reduce their medication.

Diverticular disease. Diverticular disease is a condition in which

small pouches, called diverticula, develop in the wall of the colon.

In a small percentage of people, these diverticula become inflamed

or infected, a condition known as diverticulitis. Diverticular

disease can cause pain, diarrhea, constipation, and other problems.

Gallstones and kidney stones. Rapid digestion leads to a rapid

release of glucose (sugar) into the bloodstream. To cope with this,

the body has to release large amounts of insulin into the

bloodstream, and this can make a person more likely to develop

gallstones and kidney stones (in addition to diabetes and high

cholesterol).

Keeping Weight Under Control

 

Foods containing plenty of fiber have more bulk than low-fiber

foods. If taken in the right form at the right time and at

sufficient quantities, fiber can sometimes slow the onset of hunger.

 

Nice To Know:

 

To help control your weight with fiber:

 

Always try to take fiber in the natural form. For example, instead

of sprinkling bran over your food, choose foods naturally high in

fiber.

Avoid foods that have been made easier to eat and digest by removal

of fiber, especially sugars (including fruit juices).

Choose foods that satisfy hunger without providing many calories,

mainly vegetables and most fruits, which are rich in fiber.

 

 

Need To Know:

 

Some individuals claim that fiber alone can cause weight loss

without the need to diet. But in fact, the only effective and safe

way to lose weight is to:

 

Reduce calorie intake to a safe level

Get enough exercise to burn off excess calories

 

However, fiber can be a useful aid in reducing calorie intake.

 

 

 

 

 

Last Reviewed: 2002 by Guy Slowik, M.D.

 

http://health./centers/digestive/112.html

 

 

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