Hi,
Let's talk about Fiber.
Now I don't know about you, but I've never thought more about fiber than when I entered my mid 20s. Suddenly, fiber became a topic in my life.
And I remember having a hard time actually grasping what fiber is. I mean, I know it's a carb... and it's supposed to be good for your gut... But like, what is it?
Well, I've spent the last two years on a journey learning about the different roles that different foods play in the body and I want to share with you what I've learned.
Starting with fiber.
So, what is fiber?
To put it simply, fiber is a carb.
But it's not a regular carb, it's a cool carb ;)
If you get that reference, lil' forehead kiss just for you xx
And by cool I mean they're the only type of carb that your body actually can't digest but we'll get more into that later.
So we know it's a carb. Well let's take a look at what that really means.
Carbs come in 3 categories. We've got sugars, starches, and fiber. All three types of carbs are nutritional, important, and serve a different role.
Sugars are the simplest form of carbs and they include everything from table sugar (used for baking and whatnot), to the sugar found in milk and some types of fruit.
Sugars offer a quick boost of energy as they're the first to hit the digestive system. So if you've ever seen people snacking on candy during their workouts, or eating fruit before they go to the gym- they're loading up on sugar so their body doesn't give out on them mid workout.
Remember, carbs are your body's most readily available source of energy. They're not evil, they're not going to make you gain weight. It's all about balancing that energy in vs. energy out.
Starches on the other hand are a little more complex. Think bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, and breakfast cereals. These guys will provide slow steady energy as they take a little longer to digest.
Fiber decided she needed to be a little extra and not get digested at all. Yup, you read that right. Fiber cannot be fully digested by the human digestive system.
I know, weird.
But your body's inability to digest fiber is where its superpowers lie.
Superpowers such as:
- maintaining regular bowel movements
- fighting bad cholesterol
- appetite control
- stabilizing blood sugar
And as if that wasn't enough, it's also an excellent source of prebiotics t hat help keep a healthy gut!
So every time you eat oats, barley, beans, lentils, fruits & veggies, grains, nuts, and seeds- you're helping your digestive system support a healthy environment from start to finish.
And typically, us women only need around 25 grams of fiber a day.
To recap..
Whether you're having trouble going to the bathroom, you're looking into maintaining overall health, or you're looking for help with weight loss, fiber is a good tool to help get you on track.
I hope this helped clear up what fiber is and does :)
Till next time!
Salpi Thorossian, CNC
salpi@onesol.com
