When pressed to name a health benefit of fiber, most people would probably say that it's good for digestion – and rightfully so. As well as keeping you regular, fiber also acts as fuel for the healthy bacteria that promotes digestive health and facilitates other essential processes in the body. However, a healthy, happy gut isn't the only reason to make sure you get enough fiber in your daily diet.
Studies have shown that fiber may reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, and can even lower the likelihood of developing certain forms of cancer. By doing so, a diet rich in fiber can potentially lengthen your lifespan. Yet, despite these documented benefits, the National Institutes of Health reported in 2010 that the vast majority of Americans only took in about 14 grams of fiber per day, when they should be consuming that much per every 1,000 grams of food they eat in general, according to the Institute of Medicine.
Because of this discrepancy, Catherine Pearson of The Huffington Post has compiled a list of fiber-filled foods that can easily be incorporated into any diet. In addition to the famed prune, other fruits including apples and kiwis also contain decent doses of this essential nutrient. And, tiny as they are, green peas can also help boost your fiber intake, since a cup of these little veggies contains about 4 grams of fiber, the source states.
Adding more fiber to your diet is a simple process once you have a better understanding of where to find it. But, if you are currently concerned about your digestive system, there are other natural compounds that can also boost your metabolism.
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