Are you eating enough fiber?

Are you eating enough fiber? Well, if you're not sure let's start with the basics.

Are you eating enough fiber? Well, if you're not sure let's start with the basics. 

Dietary fiber - found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds - is a carbohydrate that your body is unable to digest. Soluble fiber can dissolve in water to help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels; common foods containing soluble fiber include oats, beans, avocados, broccoli, sweet potatoes, seeds, apples, and blueberries. In contrast, insoluble fiber cannot dissolve and passes through your digestive system mostly intact, bulking up stool and aiding with constipation or irregular stools. This kind of fiber is found in whole wheat, whole grains, brown rice, legumes, carrots, cucumbers, fruits with seeds, dark leafy greens, and nuts.

Read on for the 5 main benefits of fiber:

• Healthy gut microbiome

Your gut microbiome is composed of microorganisms that live inside your digestive tract to help with digestion and immune system function, and it is heavily influenced by what you eat. Eating soluble fiber helps the bacteria in our gut flourish. Fiber interacts with bacteria in the gut to facilitate metabolism and promote colon health.¹ ² Fiber also helps to build a mucus barrier in the colon, which works to shield the body from harmful pathogens.³