Fiber: What is it Good For?

We usually think of fiber as important for keeping our digestion regular. However, did you know fiber is healthy for other reasons? Here are some benefits of fiber and some of my favorite sources:

• Fiber helps you stay fuller, longer. This can help with weight loss goals.
• Fiber helps detox the body of excess hormones, thus can help with hormonal balancing.
• Fiber is great for balancing blood sugar, thus can help prevent and correct imbalances like hypoglycemia and diabetes. 
• Fiber helps to sweep the intestines of potentially carcinogenic compounds.
• Fiber can help to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut (this is called a pre-biotic). Having healthy gut bacteria is of utmost importance to overall health.

Get fiber from whole-food sources such as:

• Veggies & Low Sugar Fruits (the best low sugar fruits are berries and they are very high in fiber)
• Ground Chia & Flax seeds in smoothies
• Beans

Fiber supplements can be useful too. Just make sure to go slow when introducing more fiber in your diet, and make sure to drink plenty of water. This can help minimize digestive distress! It is important to note that for some people with digestive problems, certain carbohydrates (which contain fiber) can actually cause digestive upset. If that happens to you, drop me a line, or talk with your health practitioner about an eating plan that may work for you.

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