FIBER FOR YOUR HEALTH:Because it causes gas, bloating, and other uncomfortable side effects, fiber may be the Rodney Dangerfield of food constituents. But with more and more research showing that a high-fiber diet may help prevent a cancer, heart disease, and other serious ailments, roughage has started to get some respect.
The problem is that most Americans don't get enough fiber to realize its potential benefits. The typical American eats only about 11 grams of fiber a day, according to the American Dietetic Association. Health experts recommend a minimum of 20 to 30 grams of fiber a day for most people.
The Food and Drug Administration has recognized fiber's importance by requiring it to be listed on the Nutrition Facts panel of food labels along with other key nutrients and calories. And, based on scientific evidence, the agency has approved four claims related to fiber intake and lowered risk of heart disease and cancer.
One claim states that dietary soluble fiber, when part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. In 1997, FDA approved this claim for certain foods containing whole oats and in 1998, for certain foods containing psyllium seed husk.
The other three claims, allowed since 1993, are:
*Diets low in fat and rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
*Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in fruits, vegetables, and grain products that contain fiber, particularly soluble fiber, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
*Diets low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables, which are low-fat foods and may contain fiber or vitamin A (as beta-carotene) and vitamin C, may reduce the risk of some cancers.
Found only in plant foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds, fiber is composed of complex carbohydrates. Some fibers are soluble in water and others are insoluble. Most plant foods contain some of each kind.
Some foods containing high levels of soluble fiber are dried beans, oats, barley, and some fruits, notably apples and citrus, and vegetables, such as potatoes. Foods high in insoluble fiber are wheat bran, whole grains, cereals, seeds, and the skins of many fruits and vegetables. In a 1996 survey, however, when 1,009 Americans were asked which of five foods--lettuce, asparagus, navy beans, brown rice, and oatmeal--provided the best source of cholesterol-fighting soluble fiber, many missed the mark.
Brown rice was incorrectly chosen by 64 percent, lettuce by 46 percent, and asparagus by 48 percent. In fact, only navy beans (chosen by 60 percent) and oatmeal (chosen by 75 percent) are rich sources of soluble fiber.
Recent findings on the health effects of fiber show it may play a role in:
Cancer: Epidemiologic studies have consistently noted an association between low total fat and high fiber intakes and reduced incidence of colon cancer. A 1992 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that men who consumed 12 grams of fiber a day were twice as likely to develop precancerous colon changes as men whose daily fiber intake was about 30 grams. The exact mechanism for reducing the risk is not known, but scientists theorize that insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool, which in turn dilutes carcinogens and speeds their transit through the lower intestines and out of the body.
The evidence that a high-fiber diet can protect against breast cancer is equivocal. Researchers analyzing data from the Nurses' Health Study, which tracked 89,494 women for eight years, concluded in 1992 that fiber intake has no influence on breast cancer risk in middle-aged women. Previously, a review and analysis of 12 studies found a link between high fiber intake and reduced risk.
In the early stages, some breast tumors are stimulated by excess amounts of estrogen circulating in the bloodstream. Some scientists believe that fiber may hamper the growth of such tumors by binding with estrogen in the intestine. This prevents the excess estrogen from being reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
Digestive disorders: Because insoluble fiber aids digestion and adds bulk to stool, it hastens passage of fecal material through the gut, thus helping to prevent or alleviate constipation. Fiber also may help reduce the risk of diverticulosis, a condition in which small pouches form in the colon wall (usually from the pressure of straining during bowel movements). People who already have diverticulosis often find that increased fiber consumption can alleviate symptoms, which include constipation and/or diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence, and mucus or blood in the stool.
Diabetes: As with cholesterol, soluble fiber traps carbohydrates to slow their digestion and absorption. In theory, this may help prevent wide swings in blood sugar level throughout the day. Additionally, a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health, published in the Feb. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that a high-sugar, low-fiber diet more than doubles women's risk of Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. In the study, cereal fiber was associated with a 28 percent decreased risk, with fiber from fruits and vegetables having no effect. In comparison, cola beverages, white bread, white rice, and french fries increased the risk.
High Fiber Foods:
A product or a food item can be labeled "High Fiber" when it contains more than 5g of fiber per serving. Benefits of High Fiber foods include the prevention of constipation, lowering cholesterol, weight loss management and many more. Also check out our list of low-fiber foods and replace them with the following foods if possible
High Fiber Foods:
*whole grain breads, buns, bagels, muffins
*Bran Flakes, All Bran, bran Buds, Corn bran, whole wheat Shreddies, 100% Bran and Fiber 1
*Cooked cereal such as Red River and Oat Bran
*whole-wheat pastas whole grains such as barley, popcorn, corn and brown rice
Fruits:
*berries such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
*oranges, apple with skin, avocado, kiwi, mango and pear
Vegetables:
*broccoli, spinach, swiss chard, green peas and other dark green leafy vegetables
*dried peas and beans such as kidney beans, lima beans, black-eyed beans, chick peas and lentils
Nuts and Seeds:
WHOLE GRAIN:
Wholegrains are cereal grains that contain bran and germ as well as the endosperm, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm. Wholegrains can generally be sprouted while processed grains generally will not sprout. Wholemeal products are made from wholegrain flour.
Common wholegrain products include:
Rolled oats or oat groats
Hulled (not pearled) barley
Sprouted grains
Whole wheat bread
Common refined-grain products include:
Pasta (although wholegrain varieties of pasta are available)
Health benefits of whole grain consumption:
In a 2002 study, consumption of wholegrains was found to be associated with lower fasting insulin concentrations when compared to those associated with the consumption of refined grains. This effect as well as improved insulin sensitivity was noticeably more pronounced among obese and hyperinsulinemic subjects, suggesting whole grain consumption to be an important component of reducing risk factors for type II diabetes when only compared to the consumption of refined grains. Consumption of wholegrains has also been consistently linked with a significant decrease in risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Regular wholegrain consumption lowers LDL and triglyceride levels, which contributes to an overall 26% reduction in coronary heart disease risk factors. In addition, wholegrain consumption is inversely related to hypertension, diabetes, and obesity when compared to refined grains, all of which are negative indicators in total cardiovascular health.
