You see it everywhere…….stamped in big letters on breakfast cereal boxes, bread and any number of other processed foods……and dietary fiber is something we’re always trying to eat more of on a regular basis – and for good reason.

If you are not eating the right amount of fibre, then you should be, that’s if you care about your long term health.

But how many of us really understand what’s so important about the benefits of a high fibre diet? Let’s have a quick look at the problem and see if we can add a few extra quality years to your life.

The following article is only a brief overview of some of the reasons for having a high fiber diet but if you follow all my links in the text they will hopefully provide you with some excellent background knowledge as to the importance of what can happen if you don’t have enough fibre in your diet.

And what prompted me to bring this to your attention relates to a conversation I had with an old friend of mine recently. For some unknown reason we were talking about what we each had for breakfast. My friend mentioned he had muesli and fresh fruit topped with two tablespoons of psyllium husk.

That then led to a discussion about the dietary fiber benefits of psyllium husk.

For the uninitiated, psyllium husk is a form of fiber made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds. It sometimes goes by the name ispaghula and it is most commonly known as a laxative.

Psyllium husk is also used in the treatment and relief of diverticular disease from which my friend is suffering so I thought, whether I need it or not, at my age it is probably a good idea to add some psyllium to my breakfast as well.

Many people believe diverticular disease is linked to colon cancer but fortunately it is not as bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, behind lung and bronchial cancer, in the western world.

Follow this link to enhance your understanding of diverticulosis.

Here are my 4 Dietary Fiber Benefits

1. Fibre helps you have regular bowel movements

Constipation is a huge problem for many people, and even those who eat a good diet often aren’t exempt from this problem.

Adding more fiber to your diet will help to stabilize your bowel movements and make it much easier to go to the toilet regularly. Apart from discomfort, constipation can cause many problems within your body.

Not only will your digestive system not work as effectively as it should, but you could end up developing hernias and other painful issues.

2. Fiber helps you lose weight?

If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your current weight, adding extra fibre to an already-balanced diet can really help you to reach your goals.

Apart from losing weight, you’ll also feel less bloated and more energetic throughout the day, which will encourage you to continue eating healthier and will also provide you with the energy that you need to work out and exercise.

3. Fibre helps lower cholesterol

High cholesterol can be extremely dangerous, and people often don’t take it seriously because of how common it is and how many people suffer from it around the world, particularly in the West.

A poor diet is usually the cause of high cholesterol, and if it’s left untreated for a long time, your arteries can become blocked and clogged, causing you to suffer from heart disease and other serious diseases.

Fibre helps lower your cholesterol and to maintain a healthy cholesterol level, thus preventing future health issues.

4. Fiber helps maintain blood sugar levels

While retaining blood sugar levels, it also helps with either improving or preventing diseases such as diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes often develops in older people, especially if they are overweight or have had a diet of sugars and fat for most of their lives.

Adding fibre to your diet while you’re young and eating it as part of a healthy and balanced diet can help to prevent the development of diabetes later in your life.

If you are middle-aged and worried about developing diabetes, you can add fibre as one of the precautionary measures to try and prevent it from developing in the near future.

In conclusion, let me just say that the benefits of eating a high fibre diet can have positive and far reaching effects on your long term health and understanding how fiber protects against cancer is at the top of the list.

I hope this helps you in your pursuit of longevity accompanied by better health.

Cheers – John – your Active Ageing Mentor and Coach.

P.S. Help a friend enjoy a healthier lifestyle……..like and share. Thanks