By Bill Healey
Everywhere you turn these days, you see reports from this doctor or recommendations from that doctor to add more fiber into your diet. There are specialists on news programs singing the praises of substituting more fruit into your afternoon snack instead of that doughnut. You even find an article from a scientific journal which claims you need to consume a certain amount of fiber and vitamins everyday in order to live past 60. What’s true and what isn’t?
With all of these different surveys and reports, it leaves the regular person questioning what they really need to eat to be healthy. Well, the good news is that the answer isn’t difficult at all. The truth is you just need to maintain a balanced diet of healthy foods. True, fiber is an important part of your eating habits, but it shouldn’t be the only thing on the menu. For maximum digestive health, try to:
• Eat plenty of fiber – This is the “Golden Rule” to any diet which claims to be digestively healthy. Foods containing fiber, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, pass more easily and quickly through the digestive tract. Fiber gives stool bulk and also softens it, which helps prevent constipation, diarrhea and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. A fiber-rich diet may also play a part in lowering your risk of colon and rectal cancer.
• Reduce fat and oils – Excess fat slows digestion, leading to problems like heartburn, bloating and constipation. A high-fat diet may also worsen the symptoms of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis and Crohn's disease. A diet high in saturated fat will increase your risk of colon cancer.
• Drink ample fluids – Fluids lubricate food waste so that it passes easily through your digestive tract. Fluids also soften stool, helping to prevent constipation. They dissolve minerals, vitamins and other nutrients, making them easier for tissues to absorb. Water is best, but milk, juice, and other beverages made up of more than 90 percent water can help meet your daily fluid needs.
Need some ideas for high-fiber meals and snacks that might work for you? Try one or a more of these suggestions:
• Start your day off with a high-fiber breakfast cereal with 5 or more grams of fiber per serving. Try to go with cereals having "bran" or "fiber" in the name.
• Change to whole-grain breads listing whole wheat, whole-wheat flour or another whole grain as the first ingredient on the label.
• Use whole grain flour instead of white flour when baking bread. Whole grain flour is heavier than white flour.
• Eat more whole grains and whole grain products. Experiment with brown rice, barley, and whole-wheat pasta.
• Eat ready-to-use vegetables. Mix chopped frozen broccoli into prepared spaghetti sauce or snack on baby carrots.
• Eat more beans, peas and lentils. Put kidney beans into a canned soup or a green salad.
• Eat some kind of fruit at every meal. Apples, bananas, oranges, pears and berries are great sources of fiber.
• Fresh and dried fruit, raw vegetables, and low-fat popcorn and whole grain crackers are all good choices for a snack.
Seek the opinion of your doctor before following of any diet treatment and regiment. Only a doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and most effective for you.
For further information on keeping your colon healthy, visit the experts at Dual Action Cleanse at www.dualactioncleansenow.com Dual Action Cleanse’s all-natural herbal formula has changed hundreds of thousands of people's lives through gentle and effective whole body safe and effective internal cleansing. Dual Action Cleanse is a two-part system and is formulated to maximize one's elimination without causing loose stools or uncomfortable cramping via frequent healthy bowel movements while assisting in cleansing the vital organs and lymphatic system.
Bill recently graduated from College with a degree in Communications and also a degree in Journalism. He has been writing articles concerning health related issues for the past two years. Currently, he has been writing stories concerning the benefits of Dual Action Cleanse
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Healey
Please note that these articles are supplied to our visitors as a courtesy. We are not responsible for their accuracy or content, nor are we responsible for or necessarily share the opinions and views of the authors.
