In the last blog I started talking about fiber. Like I said, it’s supposed to be one of those things that we care about, but why? What does fiber really do? Why is it so important?
Believing that it never hurts to go over some basics– Here are some more health benefits of fiber, some of the differences you’ll find in qualities of fiber and how you can include more of it in your diet.
A few more benefits to a diet high in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
For the rest of the list, check out Part 1
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Keeps Cholesterol Low. The soluble fiber in flax seed, quinoa, oats, and beans help keep LDL or low-density lipoprotein (the bad cholesterol) levels low. Studies show that fiber could also help in reducing blood pressure and inflammation.
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Keeps your Gut Working Like A Finely Tuned Machine (As It Should Be). Dietary fiber keeps your stool size consistent. When soluble fiber is absorbed by water, the bulk the water/fiber mixture adds as well as the softness this creates in the stool makes it much easier to pass, decreasing the possibility of constipation. Research is also being done to see how the fiber fermented in the colon could help help limit your risk of developing diverticular disease (small pouches in your colon) and hemorrhoids.
Besides The Differences In Soluble and Insoluble Fiber, Are There Differences In Quality?
This is an important question to bring up. Science can now create what is called “functional” fiber –fiber that is created in a lab from bacteria or yeast and added to some processed foods. This lab fiber is allowed to be called fiber because it still promotes healthy bacteria in the stomach, lowers LDL cholesterol, and increases stool weight. But they lack the important nutrients and phytochemicals that come with the fiber found in whole foods. Essentially, this is a cheaper way for companies that primarily produce processed foods to tout that their product includes fiber. If we look at Inulin, the soluble fiber extracted from chicory root and found in products like Fiber One bars, it increases fiber content, and can even be used to replace fat. Also, because it’s known as a prebiotic, Inulin will promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the stomach. But Inulin doesn’t have the ability to lower cholesterol. A well sourced whole foods fiber will. Which is exactly what Gnarly uses in it’s Gnarly Feast.
Why Gnarly Uses Whole Food Fiber
You’ll find a list of all the whole food ingredients as well as the Adaptogen and Immune Boosting Blend that we put in Gnarly Feast right on our label. Because we believe that the better informed you are about what you’re putting in your body, the healthier you’ll be. And we know that Gnarly stands out and above the rest when it comes to supplements -the more you know about what we’re putting in, the more this becomes apparent.
