Feeling Fabulous with Fiber: How To Include More Into Your Daily Diet

Fiber. You hear a lot about it these days. It’s easy to associate fiber with helping us stay regular and maintaining proper digestion. Afterall, there is nothing worse than feeling bloated, backed up and constipated! Though everyone knows fiber is a key element to the daily diet, statistics show that the vast majority of Americans are not getting enough fiber each day. This is a shame because fiber is essential in not only helping regulate digestion but also in promoting optimal wellness throughout your entire body. Fortunately, we’re here to help!

What is fiber?

Commonly referred to as roughage, fiber is the part of plants that your body cannot break down through the digestive process. Fiber passes through your body keeping your digestive system clean, healthy and regular. There are two types of fiber; soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber easily dissolves when it comes in contact with water and can be found in foods that include nuts, oatmeal, beans and apples. In contrast, insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water, making it a bulky fiber that aids in reducing constipation and promoting regular bowel movements. You can typically find insoluble fiber in foods like celery, psyllium husk, and whole grains. There are a variety of foods that contain both these types of fibers, especially those that are plant-based, natural and unprocessed.

How is fiber beneficial to your health?

It’s no secret that fiber helps to promote good digestive health. Not only does dietary fiber help to normalize bowel movements by creating bulk in your stools, it assists in making them easy for you to pass. While fiber alleviates constipation and provides relief for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) it can also promote weight loss! If we feel full, we are less likely to turn to emotional eating and mindless snacking, leading to unwanted weight gain. Fiber has also been shown to promote heart health, especially when it comes to including soluble fiber in your diet. A diet rich in fiber can help improve cholesterol levels and assist in reducing risk factors linked to heart disease and strokes. Fiber also plays a role in promoting healthy skin because it aids in flushing toxins out of the body, thus improving the appearance of your complexion.

How can I include more fiber into my diet?

Chances are, you know that eating a variety of nutrient-dense whole foods is extremely beneficial for your health. Not only does it give your body an abundance of vitamins and minerals, fiber-rich foods help aid in the digestion process. One of the best ways to incorporate fiber into your diet is to have it at breakfast! Start your day by making a smoothie with various fruits and vegetables, like leafy greens, oranges and bananas. You can really “rev-up” the fiber content by adding some old fashion oats, raw nuts and seeds to the mix. Another easy way to incorporate more fiber into your diet is to start focusing on the foods you snack on. It’s all too easy for us to reach for a candy bar or a processed food that is laden with refined carbohydrates and sugar. Make your snacks count by eating dried fruit, raw nuts and crunchy vegetables with a delicious dip. The snacks will not only give your body a boost of fiber but they will give you a natural boost of energy. Last but not least, add some fiber to that daily supplement routine! GoBiotix Prebiotic Fiber Boost contains a blend of prebiotic fiber perfect for a smoothie that helps to support proper digestion. Best of all? GoBiotix Prebiotic Fiber Boost is naturally derived from beet and cane sugar using 100 percent non-GMO ingredients. Learn more about the benefits here.

Fiber-Filled Smoothie Bowl – Serves 2

Add the following ingredients to your blender and process until smooth. Pour the mixture into a bowl and add your favorite healthy toppings.

·       1 cup nut milk

·       ½ cup oats

·       2 Tbsp nut butter

·       1 Tbsp cacao powder

·       1 scoop GoBiotix Prebiotic Fiber Boost

·       1 banana