Fiber is not a new trend in the health world, but with all the high fat, high protein diets soaring in popularity (think paleo and keto), we seem to have lost track of the importance of fiber in our diets. And that’s not good for our health. Here’s why.
Fiber is essential for gut health and regular bowel movements. If you know us, you know how much we like to talk about poop – but for a good reason! Regular elimination is key for clearing the body of toxins and avoiding unhealthy build-up in the GI tract and colon. In other words, if you’re not pooping regularly, that could lead to big problems for your overall health.
Perhaps surprisingly, studies show that the vast majority of Americans aren’t getting enough fiber. Most people, it seems, are so focused on how much protein they’re eating, but equally important is how much fiber we’re getting!
There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber helps to regulate your blood sugar levels and aids in digestion, while insoluble fiber helps to soften stool, prevent constipation, and makes bowel movements more regular.
Besides helping with regular elimination and detoxification, fiber is also important for feeding the healthy bacteria in your gut. Foods like flaxseeds, dandelion greens, apples, bananas, and more are rich in prebiotic fiber which feeds your gut flora and promotes a healthy digestive biome.
Here are some of our favorite high fiber foods:
Beans & lentils Blueberries Raspberries Blackberries Flaxseeds Chia seeds Dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens and chard Whole grains like quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and brown rice
As you up your fiber intake, make sure you’re drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For example, if you weigh 140 lbs, aim to drink at least 70 oz of water per day. For a higher fiber diet to be effective, staying hydrated is essential to keep everything, ahem, moving along. Remember: lots of water + lots of fiber = happy belly.
What can you do right now to help your fiber intake? Make a green smoothie! We love green juices too, but they lack the high fiber content of green smoothies. Green smoothies are fiber bombs – dark leafy greens, berries, bananas, or other fruit, plus superfood additions like chia seeds or flaxseeds are all high in healthy digestive fibers. So get blending and get those toxins moving on out!
With love and fiber,
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