The Importance of Fiber

Trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser Want to share this email? Forward to a Friend Food Recipes Health Beauty Balance Samples Fiber is more important than you think! Learn more here Fiber is one of those things that most of us just assume we are getting in our diet. We know we need it, but do we know how important it is to our bodies? Do we know where to find it to include in our daily diet? Do we know the recommended daily value? Read more to get in the know on fiber. Intestinal Fortitude Let's take a quick pop quiz: What do obesity, diabetes, depression, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, dermatitis, diarrhea, allergic rhinitis, the common cold, acne, chronic fatigue syndrome, and food allergies have in common? The battle for your stomach. According to recent studies, these conditions are all affected by a burbling bacterial war happening deep in your bowels. It's bifidobacterium vs. E. coli, lactobacillus vs. clostridium. It's the probiotics (good bacteria) vs. the pathogenic (bad) bacteria. Focus On: Probiotics Probiotics play a major role in bolstering our immune systems. They aid in digestion and help you to have more regular bowel movements, in addition to helping treat Candida (yeast infections), colitis, and diarrhea. Having imbalanced gut ecology leaves us vulnerable to a wide range of infections from the urinary tract to the lungs and all the way up to the sinuses-and can cause ailments as transient as 24-hour diarrhea or as chronic as autoimmune diseases. Probiotics support our body's health through the digestive tract by restoring the healthy bacteria that are naturally present. Probiotic supplements, or foods that contain probiotics, are crucial to absorbing nutrients from our food and eliminating toxins. Fiber First Most people know that the dietary choices we make play a huge role in heart health. Eating the right foods can dilate your arteries, reduce inflammation, prevent clotting, and promote circulation. What is less well known is the role of fiber in heart health. Fiber is the woody part of the plant that is partially digested. (Fiber is also sometimes called roughage.) Though scientists have divided fiber into two categories-soluble and insoluble-based on how they behave in laboratory settings, the bottom line is that all fiber is good for you. In Season: Artichokes Artichokes contain about 10 grams of fiber- so why not try some? Here are several excellent recipes. Enjoy! Click here for more information. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, click here to sign up to receive your own free subscription