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Fiber and Its Function in Our Bodies

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Submitted By TCW1
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Fiber and its function in our bodies

10/09/2011

Fiber is important when it comes to our body and our daily diet. We need to make sure that we consume a certain amount of foods in each food group. We also need to make sure that we get our daily vitamins, fiber and many other nutrients on a daily basis. Dietary fiber adds bulkiness to our diet. It makes you feel full sooner; it can be supportive in controlling our weight. Fiber aids digestion, helps prevent constipation, and is used for the treatment of diverticulitis, diabetes, and heart disease. The main function of fiber though, is to regulate digestion in our bodies.
Soluble and insoluble fibers are a little different; they both supply imperative elements that keep you making a healthy lifestyle. When we talk about insoluble fiber, this fiber does not dissolve in liquid. Its task is to keep the digestive tract free of anything that might cause a blockage in your body. It will absorb liquid and expand in the tract, successfully speeding your process of moving bulk through the tract while scraping the interior walls clean of any residue.
Then there is soluble fiber, which attracts water and form a gel that slows the digestive process down. It postpones your stomach from emptying and makes you feel full longer. This helps us control our weight and over eating. When your stomach is slower at emptying, it may affect our blood sugar levels. This can have a beneficial effect on our insulin sensitivity, which can help control diabetes as well as lower LDL our bad blood cholesterol.
When it comes to fiber and our intake of it, adults need to intake a different amount than a child should. For adults, there is a recommendation that we intake 20- 35 grams per day in our diets and for our children there is an intake level of 10- 15 grams a day. These recommendations should come from a mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber, seeing as each type provides different benefits.
Sources of soluble fiber include; Oatmeal, oat cereal, lentils, apples, oranges, pears, oat bran, strawberries, nuts, flaxseeds, beans, dried peas, blueberries, cucumbers, celery, and carrots.
Sources of insoluble fiber include; whole wheat, whole grains, wheat bran, corn bran, seeds, nuts, barley, couscous, brown rice, bulgur, zucchini, celery, broccoli, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, dark leafy vegetables, raisins, grapes, fruit, and root vegetable skins.
When it comes to fiber, I have learned that, you should intake both types of fiber rather than just one or the other to benefit your body to the fullest.

References “Fiber, lipids, and coronary heart disease: A statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee” from the Week Three Electronic Reserve Readings.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/News/Heart-and-Stroke-encyclopedia_UCM_316695_SubHomePage.jsp.

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