Do You Think Fiber is just for your Colon? Think Again
By: Tia Young
So you think fiber is just for your colon? Think again! As a colon hydrotherapist, I have learned about the importance of fiber as it pertains to colon health. At least 25-30 grams a day will provide the soft bulk that is needed to stimulate the efficient movement of toxic waste matter through the colon (by a wavelike motion called “peristalsis”), and as a result, helps to prevent constipation and reduce the risk of degenerative conditions of the colon such as diverticulitis, polyps, colitis and colon cancer.
Because of this, fiber is primarily perceived to be a bulking agent, but it’s more than just bulk, it can also be used to treat various conditions and diseases in the body not directly associated with the colon. Did you know that fiber can help you lose weight? Since fiber alone contains no calories, it is the perfect substance needed to satisfy your appetite without causing weight gain.
It creates the feeling of a “full stomach” and reduces your cravings for sweets and other bad foods. Fiber-rich foods also take longer to eat, which means you get full quicker from eating less food, and you stay satisfied longer. It also reduces the amount of fat and carbohydrates absorbed in the intestines during digestion as it is passed in the stool. Now there’s a healthy alternative to diet pills.
Did you know that a high fiber diet can lower blood sugar levels in diabetics? A study published in the May 11, 2000 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reports that diabetic patients who added 50g of fiber to their daily diet, not only saw a 10% reduction in their blood glucose levels, but also reduced the insulin and lipid levels in the blood as well. Even diabetics can benefit from a high fiber diet. How sweet!!
Did you know that fiber can reduce the risk of breast cancer? It’s easy to understand how a high fiber diet greatly reduces the risk of “colon” cancer, but how does it reduce the risk of breast cancer? In his book simply titled, “How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer”, Jon J. Michnovicz explains that certain cancerous conditions in the body are caused by an overabundance of certain hormones, like estrogen, circulating in the bloodstream. This occurs when estrogen enters the intestines (by way of the liver), and finds its way to the colon where it is reabsorbed into the body if not promptly eliminated by the bulk created by insoluble fiber – found in wheat, rye, bran and other grains. And I thought PMS was all I had to worry about.
Did you know that fiber can lower blood cholesterol and prevent heart disease? Soluble fiber found in oats, fruit, barley and legumes, binds with the “bad” cholesterol in the blood stream and prevents it from accumulating in the arteries so it can be eliminated in the stool. Enough fiber can help lower blood cholesterol levels by 10-15%. As a result, a high fiber diet equals lower cholesterol, lower cholesterol equals lower blood pressure, and lower blood pressure equals lower risk of heart disease. Gotta love that!
Did you know that a fiber-rich diet can prevent those unsightly varicose veins? Forget everything you heard before. Poor circulation, pregnancy and prolonged standing is not the cause of varicose veins, it is caused by excessive venous pressure from straining to have a bowel movement. Weakening of the vein wall causes vessels to become swollen due to a backflow of blood. When this occurs in the legs it causes those pesky varicose veins, when it occurs in the anal area it causes – you guessed it, hemorrhoids. These conditions are rarely seen in parts of the world where people consume a high amount of fiber such as Asia and Africa.
If pregnancy and prolonged standing were the main causes then those countries would definitely not be an exception. So there you have it.
A high fiber diet offers more health benefits than most people realize. For this reason, the American Medical Association, the National Cancer Institute, the American Heart Association, and the American Dietetic Association have all joined forces to educate the public about the importance of consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
So the next time you’re out shopping for groceries, get brown rice instead of white rice. Instead of white bread, try whole grain. Put away that bag of candy and pick up a bag of dried fruit. White pasta? Heck no! Wheat or rice pasta is the way to go. Making these crucial changes will not only improve your bowel movements, but also improve your overall health and well being.
Take care.References:The Natural Guide to Colon Health, by: Louise Tenney, M.H., Woodland Publishing (1997)
http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs01.htm
http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_15_2_5.htm
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/958073584.html
So you think fiber is just for your colon? Think again! As a colon hydrotherapist, I have learned about the importance of fiber as it pertains to colon health. At least 25-30 grams a day will provide the soft bulk that is needed to stimulate the efficient movement of toxic waste matter through the colon (by a wavelike motion called “peristalsis”), and as a result, helps to prevent constipation and reduce the risk of degenerative conditions of the colon such as diverticulitis, polyps, colitis and colon cancer.
Because of this, fiber is primarily perceived to be a bulking agent, but it’s more than just bulk, it can also be used to treat various conditions and diseases in the body not directly associated with the colon. Did you know that fiber can help you lose weight? Since fiber alone contains no calories, it is the perfect substance needed to satisfy your appetite without causing weight gain.
It creates the feeling of a “full stomach” and reduces your cravings for sweets and other bad foods. Fiber-rich foods also take longer to eat, which means you get full quicker from eating less food, and you stay satisfied longer. It also reduces the amount of fat and carbohydrates absorbed in the intestines during digestion as it is passed in the stool. Now there’s a healthy alternative to diet pills.
Did you know that a high fiber diet can lower blood sugar levels in diabetics? A study published in the May 11, 2000 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reports that diabetic patients who added 50g of fiber to their daily diet, not only saw a 10% reduction in their blood glucose levels, but also reduced the insulin and lipid levels in the blood as well. Even diabetics can benefit from a high fiber diet. How sweet!!
Did you know that fiber can reduce the risk of breast cancer? It’s easy to understand how a high fiber diet greatly reduces the risk of “colon” cancer, but how does it reduce the risk of breast cancer? In his book simply titled, “How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer”, Jon J. Michnovicz explains that certain cancerous conditions in the body are caused by an overabundance of certain hormones, like estrogen, circulating in the bloodstream. This occurs when estrogen enters the intestines (by way of the liver), and finds its way to the colon where it is reabsorbed into the body if not promptly eliminated by the bulk created by insoluble fiber – found in wheat, rye, bran and other grains. And I thought PMS was all I had to worry about.
Did you know that fiber can lower blood cholesterol and prevent heart disease? Soluble fiber found in oats, fruit, barley and legumes, binds with the “bad” cholesterol in the blood stream and prevents it from accumulating in the arteries so it can be eliminated in the stool. Enough fiber can help lower blood cholesterol levels by 10-15%. As a result, a high fiber diet equals lower cholesterol, lower cholesterol equals lower blood pressure, and lower blood pressure equals lower risk of heart disease. Gotta love that!
Did you know that a fiber-rich diet can prevent those unsightly varicose veins? Forget everything you heard before. Poor circulation, pregnancy and prolonged standing is not the cause of varicose veins, it is caused by excessive venous pressure from straining to have a bowel movement. Weakening of the vein wall causes vessels to become swollen due to a backflow of blood. When this occurs in the legs it causes those pesky varicose veins, when it occurs in the anal area it causes – you guessed it, hemorrhoids. These conditions are rarely seen in parts of the world where people consume a high amount of fiber such as Asia and Africa.
If pregnancy and prolonged standing were the main causes then those countries would definitely not be an exception. So there you have it.
A high fiber diet offers more health benefits than most people realize. For this reason, the American Medical Association, the National Cancer Institute, the American Heart Association, and the American Dietetic Association have all joined forces to educate the public about the importance of consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
So the next time you’re out shopping for groceries, get brown rice instead of white rice. Instead of white bread, try whole grain. Put away that bag of candy and pick up a bag of dried fruit. White pasta? Heck no! Wheat or rice pasta is the way to go. Making these crucial changes will not only improve your bowel movements, but also improve your overall health and well being.
Take care.References:The Natural Guide to Colon Health, by: Louise Tenney, M.H., Woodland Publishing (1997)
http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs01.htm
http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_15_2_5.htm
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/958073584.html
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