Fiber Diet
During the past 20 years the dietary fiber has emerged as a major factor in preventing and treating chronic diseases. The high fiber intake is associated with low concentrations of serum cholesterol, low risk of coronary heart disease, reduced blood pressure, improved weight control, better glycemic control, reducing the risk of certain forms of cancer and improving the gastrointestinal function.
The dietary fiber can be categorized into a soluble and insoluble in water. Dried Beans?, And certain fruits and vegetables are good sources of soluble fiber. Most of the food plants are good sources of insoluble fibers and wheat bran is a concentrate of insoluble fiber. The American dietary recommendations doubled the dietary fiber. The broad inclusion of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and dried peas to help achieve these recommendations.
Practical Considerations
Almost all individuals can increase their intake of foods rich in fiber if they do so gradually. The biggest side effect of high fiber intake is increased production of intestinal gas, which diminishes as the individual adapts to the diet. With more than 10,000 patient-years of experience, our metabolic research group has found no major problems in the use of diets high in fiber and carbo-hydrates.
According to the individual increase their intake of fiber, should also increase the intake of fluid. Medicines for hyperlipidemia, hypertension or diabetes could be reduced or abandoned under medical supervision. Individuals should also be encouraged to undertake regular aerobic activities such as walking, because the exercise increases the benefits of high fiber intake.
The low-fat diets rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are suitable for individuals of all ages older than 2 years. So that such diets can become a meal plan for the whole family for a lifetime?
Conclusions
The fiber diets reduce the risk of diseases prevalent in Western society. The clinical evidence has established the role of high intake of fiber in reducing hyperlipidemia, better monitoring of blood glucose and insulin to sensibilities in diabetic individuals, facilitating weight loss and reduced requirements for insulin or oral agents in obese diabetic individuals, in addition to maintaining the health of the gastrointestinal tract. The high fiber intake and foods rich in fiber are also suggested for the protection of colon cancer and CHD, regardless of changes in lipids. Vegetarian diets rich in fiber have shown decreasing blood pressure in individuals with mild to moderate hypertension, but has not yet been established an independent effect of fiber.
With the abundant evidence of the health benefits of fiber, should be made aggressive efforts to incorporate intakes of fiber in nutritional therapies for metabolic conditions and make recommendations on plans for improving nutritional health. A diet high in fiber generous in fruits, vegetables, seeds and whole grains is a practical nutritional plan to be adopted for life.
June 22 2008 06:21 pm | Product Discussion