Tag Archives: fiber

Trouble in the Bathroom – Constipation

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Let’s talk about constipation. It may be an embarrassing topic, but did you know that there’s a big vegetarian advantage when it comes to preventing and treating constipation, and some more serious colon health problems, that are so common in our meat-centered society? When it comes to constipation, the sales figures for laxatives tell the story as well as anything. No one should have to pay to poop, yet Americans spend over $1 billion dollars on laxatives every year to do just that. The culprit, as with so many other health problems, is the low-fiber, meat-centered, American diet. This is where, as with so many health issues, a healthy vegetarian diet can come to the rescue. Read more

Preventing Cancer – there’s plenty you can do!

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Girl with bag of fresh foodMany people worry about getting cancer, but they don’t realize how much difference their food choices can make in whether they get cancer or not. When it comes to cancer, your diet can make all the difference.

The connection between the food we eat and cancer is anything but new. Scientists have long noticed the association with eating meat and cancer. For instance, Scientific American stated all the way back in January 1892 that “cancer is most frequent among those branches of the human race where carnivorous habits prevail.”

Studies have shown again and again that those following a plant-based diet have a lower risk of several kinds of cancer such as stomach, colon, prostate and pancreatic. Even smokers (and of course smoking is not recommended) can cut their risk of lung cancer by half if they eat a plant-food rich diet. Now, in the 21st century, scientists are discovering many of the ways plant foods help protect us from getting cancer. Read more

Are You Confused About Fiber?

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Dietary fiber, sometimes called roughage, is the indigestible portion of plant foods having two main components: soluble and insoluble fiber. Scientists divide fiber types into viscous (soluble) and insoluble fiber because each name can tell a researcher what to expect as far as how it affects the body. Both kinds of fiber are helpful. For example, insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool and speeds transit time through the large intestine, helping to prevent everything from constipation to painful hemorrhoids, while lowering the risk of certain cancers such as colon cancer. Viscous fibers form a liquid or gel solution when combined with water in your digestive system. They help prevent spikes and crashes in your blood glucose and help reduce cholesterol.

How much fiber do you need? The National Academy of Sciences established an Adequate Intake (AI) level of 38 grams of total daily fiber for males 19-50 years of age and 25 grams for women in this same age range. It turns out that most Americans in this age range typically get only about half this much fiber each day, and many even less than that.

Here’s the good news: whole (unrefined) plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans), nuts and seeds, all have plenty of both kinds of fiber, though one kind or the other will predominate in any given plant food. However animal foods, such as meat, dairy and eggs, have none at all. This gives the vegetarian quite the health advantage. But here’s a word of warning for all those in transition towards a vegetarian diet (and especially those starting fiber supplements). Increase your fiber intake slowly in order to avoid gas and loose stools. In time, you’ll find that you’ve never felt so good once you’re following a high fiber diet!