When it comes to choosing the best diet for our body, there’s always a bit of clash between what to eat and what not to eat. Expert opinions flood the internet promoting various diets that promise fast weight loss and cancer-fighting attributes. It may be confusing to determine which of these diets is really good for our body.
Our bodies, like machines, need fuel to run properly. And food is our fuel. What we eat now can determine the quality of our health in the long run. This is why choosing the best diet for your lifestyle and body is very important when it comes to preventing various diseases that can affect the quality of your life.
Fiber, a plant-based nutrient, is found mainly in whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. It is popularly associated with its ability to prevent constipation. However, fiber has other great health benefits that most people don’t know. The following are some of the amazing health benefits of a high fiber diet.
1. A high-fiber diet can help you lose weight
What is the secret to healthy and fast weight loss? No, it’s not exercise or quitting carbs. According to a new study, the best way to slim down is to “focus on high-fiber, minimally processed, plant based food.” This is primarily attributed to fiber’s ability to create a sensation of fullness right after eating. Fiber activates stretch receptors or those nerve cells that signal your brain that you’re full. This helps you digest food slowly, extending the time for the nutrients to go to your bloodstream and increasing your feeling of satiety.
2. It can improve your gut health
Your gut houses hundreds of different species of bacteria, and every day it feeds off the things you eat. While some of these bacteria are actually beneficial, the rest may cause inflammation and gut diseases. This is where fiber comes in. A diet high in fiber helps reduce inflammation and risk of getting gut diseases. Good bacteria feast on fermentable fibers which allow them to extract the fiber’s vitamins and nutrients, which are beneficial to our body.
3. It reduces the risk of hemorrhoids
A high-fiber diet doesn’t just help you with your bowels, it also prevents you from getting hemorrhoids! Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectal region, often a result of too much straining when defecating. Foods rich in fiber make the best natural laxatives that can prevent hematochezia (having blood in stools), which can be alarmingly painful!
4. It can help control your blood sugar
Having a high-fiber diet can help you control your blood sugar. Unlike refined carbohydrates that cause spikes in your blood sugar, eating fiber doesn’t create any bodily changes. In fact, fiber simply passes through your digestive system, often intact and undigested. Fiber, unlike carbs, doesn’t require insulin to digest. If you eat the recommended fiber consumption every day, you’ll lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes.
5. It can help prevent heart disease
A diet high in soluble fiber can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by up to 50 percent. This reduces your risk of stroke and heart attack. A study has found that for every seven grams of fiber you consume, your chance of stroke is believed to decrease by 7 percent.
6. It makes your skin glow
Eat your way to a healthier-looking skin. A high fiber diet doesn’t only benefit your body internally; it can also make your skin glow and look younger. Experts believe a diet high in fiber can help remove fungus and yeast out of your body while preventing them from being excreted through your skin, which can cause rash and acne.
Featured photo credit: Ed Gregory via stokpic.com
