You could write a lot about fiber and certainly everyone knows how important it is in our lives. It’s a crucial nutrient, which should be a significant element of our daily diet, and which we constantly consume too little of. Fiber allows us to stay full longer, positively affects the weight loss process, cleanses the intestines, works properly on our digestive system. In this article, we will try to delve deeply into the topic of fiber, trying to gather all the most important information about it in one place.
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Fiber is classified as a soluble or insoluble compound, looking at its relationship to dissolution in water. These insoluble fibers increase the content of stool, soluble in turn have a positive effect on our health, our metabolism and our body weight. Fiber is necessary for the proper functioning of the intestines, which you really need to take care of.
Fiber and the intestines
Fiber feeds those „healthy bacteria” that are found in the intestines. As everyone knows, hundreds of trillions of bacteria live in the intestines, especially the fat ones. Some of them are harmful, while others are extremely important – friendly to our digestive system. They are often called the gut flora or the gut microbiome. Each species of bacteria is responsible for something different and performs specific functions in the human body. these „healthy bacteria” significantly affect our health, weight control, blood sugar control, are important for our immunity or even brain function. Impossible? Not at all! However, for such organisms to live and function properly, they must eat well. They simply die without good food. And so here appears soluble fiber, whose task is to pass through the digestive system and reach the intestines, in which it becomes a breeding ground for healthy bacteria.
Why do we need good bacteria?
These bacteria fight various types of inflammation. They produce nutrients, including short chain fatty acids, which are essential for cells in the colon. These bacteria repair damaged cells. They significantly affect the body’s resistance to all kinds of diseases. They are necessary to be able to maintain adequate body weight. They prevent constipation, digestive disorders and stomach problems. it’s so important to maintain the right bacterial flora in our intestines.
Where can we find fiber?
Fiber is contained in plant foods. We can find it in beans, legumes, flax seeds, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, as well as oats. It’s undoubtedly worth adding products rich in fiber to your diet, but if we have used too little of it so far, we should increase it gradually if we do not want to get stomach problems. What about supplements? If we are not able to bet on a diet that would have natural fiber in its composition, then certainly such supplements can be optimal. Which ones are best to choose?
Fiber as a dietary supplement
It’s good to buy fiber from good sources and use them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Drink the right amount of water. Of course, such supplementation should go hand in hand with a proper, well-composed and balanced diet.
Summary
Fiber is extremely valuable for the human body and most of us should add it to our diet. The richer the diet is, the better, because it has an extremely positive effect on our intestinal microflora. Fiber, in addition to many beneficial properties for health, is of great importance in the weight loss process. If we have the opportunity, it’s best to have a diet rich in it, or supplement it if that’s not possible, but if we choose a product, it should be glucomannan. The smart solution – it’s fiber in everyday nutrition!
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