How to Realize the Benefits of Fiber

Increasing your fiber intake can have a positive effect on your overall health in a number of ways.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. You can use soluble fiber to treat mild diarrhea. Soluble fiber can absorb excess water in the intestine that is usually excreted.
2. Insoluble fiber can be used to treat constipation. It softens and increases the bulk of the stool.
3. Foods that are high in fiber take more time to get digested. They make you feel full for a longer period of time. If you're trying to lose weight, feeling full means eating less.
4. When soluble fiber travels through the intestine, it binds to bile, a chemical made out of cholesterol. Normally, bile is recycled in the body. Once it binds to the fiber, it is excreted and more is made. Since it is made out of cholesterol, the more that is made the lower your cholesterol drops.
5. Many studies have shown that eating a diet rich in fiber can lower your blood pressure which also lowers your risk of heart disease.
6. You can get more help by reading and posting to the diet and exercise forums that are linked below.