Diet Fiber Supplements – Your Body Needs Fiber!

Diet and fiber

Eating more fiber is healthy. You have probably heard it before. But do you know why fiber is so good for your health?

Fiber includes all parts of plant foods that body cannot digest or absorb. Fiber is classified into two categories: those that don't dissolve in water (insoluble fiber) and those that do (soluble fiber).

• Insoluble fiber.
This fiber increases the movement of material through your digestive system and increases stool bulk, so it benefit those who struggle with constipation or irregular stools. Whole-wheat flour, wheat bran, nuts and vegetables are good sources of insoluble fiber.

• Soluble fiber.
This fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like material. It helps to lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. You can find generous quantities of soluble fiber in oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots and psyllium.

If you need to add more fiber to your diet, don't worry. If increasing the amount you eat each day is difficult, a large number of fiber supplements are there to assist you. Commercial fiber supplements are available. These range from bran tablets to purified cellulose (an insoluble fiber).

Many laxatives being sold as stool softeners are actually fiber supplements. As different types of fibers work in different ways, no one-fiber supplement provides all of fibers potential benefits. Persons unable to change their diets might benefit from fiber supplements as suggested before.

How do I benefit from dietary fiber supplements?
Fiber supplements increase the weight and size of stool and soften it. A bulky stool is easier to pass, decreasing the chances of constipation. If you have loose, watery stools, fiber also helps to solidify the stool because it absorbs water and adds bulk to stool.

A fiber supplement may lower your risk of specific disorders, such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and the development of small pouches in your colon. Fiber — particularly soluble fiber — also lower blood cholesterol levels and slow the absorption of sugar that helps to improve blood sugar levels. Thus a high-fiber plan also reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Eating high-fiber foods also helps with weight loss.

Are fiber supplements harmful in the long run?
There's no evidence that long-term use of fiber supplements, such as Metamucil, Konsyl or Citrucel, is harmful to health. Doctors recommend people with certain digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome or chronic constipation, take fiber supplements indefinitely.

Make sure that you drink plenty of water or other fluids every day if you take fiber supplements. Since fiber tends to absorb water, if your fluid intake is low and you increase fiber intake, stool can become hard — making constipation worse.

Thus fiber supplements can help you remain healthy even if you don’t prefer eating fibrous foods in your diet!

Also read our article about Diet Suppliments