Be Well Buzz » fiber

Fiber drinks can help you lose weight

Simon Lee — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:15:42 +0000

Many foods in our daily diets are actually rich source of fiber but many people do not really get to know about this fact. Fiber is a component that can only be ingested with many positive health benefits. With proper intake, it can prevent heart disease and reduce many chronic diseases. Fiber can be found in two types and categorized into soluble and insoluble. Soluble is the type of fiber that can dissolves in water that blend into your stomach through foods, this type of fiber can helps to slow digestion and makes you to feel fuller, it can also help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and help regulate blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. Insoluble in other form is type of fiber that adds bulk to the stool, allowing it to move more easily through the digestive system that leads to constipation prevention. How much fiber to consume per day? For adult, it is suggest taking 21 to 38 grams on average of fiber per day, but the fact is most of the adult today only taking half or less from this figure. I cant refuse that taking high fiber foods on purpose can be quite problematic, but there are many good fiber supplements available in the market. This of course includes fiber drinks which can make the fiber intake even much easier. Fiber drinks recipe Raspberries, pears, apples, strawberries, bananas, oranges, figs, raisins are a few of fiber fruits that can make you a glass of tasty natural fiber drink when mixed together. When shopping for fiber foods, you should always read the nutrition label to find out the exact amount of fiber content. As for reference, women should take at least 21 to 25 grams of fiber per day whereby men should take in between 30 to 38 grams per day. Fiber drinks, like Metamucil, Citrucel, Benefiber, Unilactin, or Genfiber are all types of drinks that you can take for your health benefits.

Eat These Foods to Live Longer

BeWellBuzz — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:37:07 +0000

Just when you thought you'd heard everything about the wonders of fiber (less constipation! lower LDL cholesterol! better blood sugar! easier weight loss!), a new one crops up. And this one's a big deal: longer life. Get plenty of fiber and you'll be 22% less likely to kick the bucket early. If you're thinking, "Yeah, but I probably have to sprinkle fiber supplements on everything," here's another surprise: You'll hit the mark simply by aiming for the regular (and we do mean regular!) fiber quotas that we YOU Docs and others recommend anyway: 25 to 30 grams a day. How hard is that to get? Hard? It's easy. Check out the fiber in 1 cup of these: beans, 15 grams; peas, 9 grams; raspberries, 8 grams; broccoli, 6 grams; corn, 4 grams; oatmeal, 4 grams; Cheerios, 3 grams. And a pear has 5 grams; an apple, 4 grams; two slices of whole-wheat bread, 4 grams; a quarter cup of almonds, 4 grams; a tablespoon of psyllium husks, 5 grams. See, YOU can do this . . . and cut your risk of heart disease, cancer, and breathing problems. Convert grain-y side dishes to fiber-rich 100% whole-grain versions and you'll also get the vitamins, the minerals, and the dozens of health-enhancing phytochemicals in grain's innermost part, the kernel, which (like the fiberful bran layer) is usually processed out in refined-grain products. That's why the real thing is so much healthier. Start by substituting brown rice (4 grams per cup) for white (1 gram per cup). Then, get to know barley (6 grams) and quinoa (5 grams). Cook up a pot of whole-wheat spaghetti (6 grams). In a hurry? Reach for whole-wheat couscous (7 grams) and you'll have a fiber-rich side dish in a flash. Source: http://www.realage.com/blogs/doctor-oz-roizen/rss

Massage and Chiropractic Therapy for Constipation?

BeWellBuzz — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:19:00 +0000

Constipation is a common complaint for so many of us - it could be due to lifestyle factors such as not getting enough physical activity on a daily basis or due to not eating enough fiber and nutrient rich foods. Sometimes the problem could simply be insufficient intake of plain water which can be easily reversed, however there could also be other underlying causes for a sluggish digestive tract which causes the stool to harden, making it difficult to pass. Taking purgatives and laxatives is something that many may be chary of using, owing to the fact that the system can grow dependent upon them, and may start to rely on them for functioning. However, alternative therapies can be useful in relieving constipation. We have spoken before about natural remedies for constipation such as diet modifications, herbal remedies and so on; today we speak of how external manipulation can help relieve constipation. Pub med recently published a study about how abdominal aroma massage and meridian massage can help relieve constipation. Such massage was seen to relieve stress as well. A study looked at the beneficial impact of these massage techniques upon functional constipation. One study group was assigned the use of an aroma therapy oil blend that contained Cyprus, lavender, rosemary and lemon and for the other group, nine acupressure points were identified as being connected to digestive functions. Both methodologies were seen to reduce incidences of constipation and were also seen to help individuals reduce the reliance that they placed on suppositories, laxatives, enemas and so on. Even practically, abdominal massage could help stimulate the bowel into functioning better, by aiding the movement of stool. There is also evidence to show that chiropractic manipulation can help to relieve constipation. Manipulations and adjustments made, particularly to the lower spine, are beneficial and can help with the problem. The understanding is that misalignment of the spine can interfere with the regular and normal functioning of the bowel and digestive tract thereby causing constipation. If the alignment of the spine is restored to normal by chiropractic manipulation, not only is constipation relieved, it may also help with functioning of other organs such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, gall bladder, stomach and so on. Often the remedies are seen to work best when nutritional therapy is used in conjunction with it - eating lots of high fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, having lots of soup, drinking plenty of water, and other non caffeinated drinks. Source: http://www.altmedicinezone.com

What to Eat for Constipation Relief

BeWellBuzz — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:13:29 +0000

Constipation happens to everyone from time to time, but for some people it can be a chronic problem. While this article is about foods that help with constipation, one of the most important things you can do to prevent constipation is to make sure you drink enough water and other liquids every day. Water helps your digestive system move in a smooth and fluid manner. In addition to drinking water, eating foods that are high in fiber will help get things moving. Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, celery, and artichokes are all high in fiber. Fruits to try include pears, prunes and prune juice, figs, apricots, peaches, and apples. Olive oil is a popular home remedy for constipation. Try taking a tablespoon on an empty stomach when you wake up in the morning. Source: http://www.mywomenhealth.com/what-to-eat-for-constipation-relief.html

High-Protein Diets May Be Bad For Your Colon

BeWellBuzz — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:58:42 +0000

High-Protein diets that skimp on fiber may have harmful long-term effects on the colon, a small UK study suggests.

According to Reuters, a group of 17 obese men were assigned to one of three diets: One designed to maintain weight, another involving large amounts of protein with moderate amounts of carbohydrates, and another involving large amounts of protein and a small amount of carbs.

The study, which appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that those placed on the high-protein diets had higher levels of N-nitroso compounds, substances often linked to cancer. Those on the high-protein, low-carb diet had lowered concentrations of fiber-derived compounds thought to help fight cancer.

According to the study, those attempting to lose weight should be sure to incorporate adequate amounts of fiber into their diets. 28 grams per day is recommended for adults, though there is doubt as to whether or not that is a sufficient amount for those on high-protein diets.

The report also notes that this study looked only at "short-term shifts in compounds that are byproducts of metabolism," and therefore does not show conclusively whether or not high-protein diets actually raise the long-term risk of colon^[1] disease. In addition, high-protein diets have been shown to help some lose weight, while obesity itself has been linked to colon^[2] disease.

"People should not be discouraged from losing weight, as this offers important health^[3] benefits," senior researcher Dr. Harry J. Flint told Reuters. However, "the risk of colorectal cancer^[4] might be raised by long-term adeherence to diets that are high in protein and low in carbohydrate, especially fiber."

References^{^} colon (www.thirdage.com)^{^} colon (www.thirdage.com)^{^} health (www.thirdage.com)^{^} cancer (www.thirdage.com)

10 Fruits and Vegetables High in Fiber

BeWellBuzz — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:42:04 +0000

Fiber is an important part of your daily diet, but how can you make sure you're getting enough? Adding some of these fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber to your weekly diet will ensure you do. Avocado One medium avocado has 13.2 g of fiber or 54% of the RDA. Broccoli A cup of boiled broccoli contains 5.2 g or 20% of the RDA. Brussels Sprouts One cup of cooked Brussels sprouts contains 4 g or 16% of the RDA. Asparagus One cup of boiled asparagus contains 3.6 g or 14% of the RDA. Carrots One cup of chopped carrots contains 3.6 g or 14% of the RDA. Blueberries One cup contains 3.6 g or 14% of the RDA. Apples One cup of quartered apples contains 3 g or 12% of the RDA. Bananas One medium banana contains 3.1 g or 12% of the RDA. Strawberries One cup of whole strawberries has 2.9 g or 12% of the RDA. Kale One cup of cooked kale contains 2.6 g or 10% of the RDA. Source: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-fruits-and-vegetables-high-in-fiber.html