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Dietary Fiber – Is It Important?
by KindMeal.my, 22 September 2014
Dietary Fiber – Is It Important?

Yes! Whole, plant-based foods contain fiber to fill you up (not out) and keep you feeling and looking your best. Fiber is one of the key nutrients to consider when it comes to preventing obesity, diabetes and warding off hunger. It’s also essential for removing cholesterol from the body and important if you’re looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight for life.

All fruits and vegetables contain fiber (in their whole food form), and animals contain absolutely NO fiber. Nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, and legumes are also packed with fiber, along with heart-healthy protein and some healthy fats. Plus, there’s the cholesterol issue. Fiber helps sweep out the harmful arterial plaque from your arteries that is caused by eating animal foods. Having a healthy cholesterol level can help you prevent heart disease, diabetes, a stroke, and more.

Here are five ways that fiber can keep you fit:

1. Digestive Health
Fiber helps move food through the digestive tract. This helps everything from our immunity to our regularity, to how well we digest our food, and even our weight. If you eat plant foods all day, you don’t have to worry about counting how many grams of fiber you eat.

2. Blood Sugar
Fiber slows down the passage of food through the stomach, and in turn, it helps slow down the absorption of glucose in the bloodstream. This prevents insulin from spiking and causing a blood sugar crash, like sugary foods cause. It also keeps your blood sugar stable longer after each meal .

3. Fewer Cravings
Because fiber keeps you full, you’re less likely to experience cravings for high-fat and sugary junk foods. Fiber sends a signal to your brain that says, “Okay, I’m good now. I don’t really feel like eating much anymore.” Even one apple can have this effect. Give it a try- when you get the midnight munchies or feel like snacking mid-morning or afternoon, have a banana and an apple. Feel better? You’re less likely to be hungry for hours after that and it’s all due to the water, natural fibers, and nutrients that plant foods contain. That box of cookies won’t look as appealing if you fill your plate with fiber-rich plant foods.

4. Long Term Heart Health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women (even above breast cancer) and studies have shown that women and men who eat a fiber-rich diet experience 40% less of a chance for developing heart disease than those who don’t eat a high fiber diet. Animal foods, even those that are low in cholesterol such as fat-free dairy, still harm the body’s ability to fight off disease and they even contribute to heart disease directly. Fiber-rich plant foods also contain vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that enhance your health even further.

5. More Energy
Fiber-rich plant foods can also help give you more energy for a few reasons. When you’re not filling your diet with processed, sugary, and high-fat foods, you’ll naturally feel better and have more energy. With your blood sugar stable, your digestive system working at top notch levels, your heart working efficiently, and your cravings gone, you’ll develop a new zest for life that you never imagined was possible.

To increase your fiber intake, you do not need to spend your day gnawing on bamboo. Eating more fiber-rich foods is as simple as eating three to four plants every time you eat. Browse for delicious, meatless and fiber-rich meals at http://KindMeal.my/

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