Get the Facts on Fiber

Fiber and Digestive Health

Fiber helps to maintain regularity by adding bulk to stools and drawing water into the digestive track. It stimulates the nerves in the intestine, causing contractions of the colon and moving waste through quickly. The accelerated transit time and increased bulk helps to prevent diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and constipation.

Fiber may just be the way to go when constipation is the problem. Although what constitutes constipation is not well established, diets that increase the number of bowel movements per day, improve the ease with which a stool is passed, or increase stool bulk are considered beneficial. Both soluble and insoluble fibers are necessary for regular bowel movements. Oftentimes, people use over-the-counter supplements to assist with regularity. Unfortunately, these supplements only provide soluble fiber. Studies support the benefits of the combination of soluble and insoluble fiber in alleviating constipation, but only with the consumption of an adequate fluid intake. High amounts of fiber, without fluids, can aggravate, rather then alleviate constipation. The way to go is to eat foods high in both soluble and insoluble fibers and drink lots of water to flush it down.

The best fiber for regularity and constipation in wheat bran fiber, learn more about it here.

 

- Fiber and Heart Disease
- Fiber and Weight Loss
- Fiber and Diabetes
- Fiber and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Sources: YourTotalHealth, MedicineNet