Fiber Duo: Two Types of Fiber and Why You Must Have Both in Your Diet

Being healthy and living a long life comes from taking care of your body before it needs extra care.  This would be like getting an oil change before the engine of your car locks up and dies. 

If you know that not getting an oil change for your vehicle would ruin the engine would you knowingly neglect having it done.  Of course not.  We love our toys too much and want it to work as long as possible.  If you don’t have a car, would you deprive your body of water knowing that going without it could cause serious health problems such as kidney failure and ultimately kill you?  No way!  Doing something to kill yourself would be suicide and that is never a good thing. 

Care for your body.  Love yourself.

There are so many other reasons why you should be aware of your fiber consumption.  And unfortunately many people do not get enough.  Granted, some health issues are hereditary; but even those things can be prevented or managed with the right diet and care for your body.

Did you know that fiber can help lower cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar levels?  It even works to prevent colon cancer, impotence, constipation, hemorrhoids, appendicitis, diverticulosis, weight gain, and obesity.  And for all the bad things toxic metals can do to your body, fiber can remove it before any harm is done!

The Fibers

There are two types of fiber—insoluble fiber and soluble.  We will tell you where to find them later.  First, we will briefly explain the differences between the two.

Soluble Fiber helps to soften the stool.  When consumed, it absorbs water and becomes a soft gel in the body’s intestine. 

Insoluble Fiber passes through the digestive system and when it reaches the digestive system, it is pretty much unchanged from they it was when eaten—that explains why you still see the corn you ate appearing in your stool the same way it looked when you devoured it!  When keeping its consistency, it helps to bulk up the stool and more importantly helps stimulate contraction of the bowel. 

The Fiber Duo - How They Work Together

We call this the fiber duo because fiber works best when you make both types of fiber part of your daily diet.  Insoluble fiber packs the stool together and encourages the bowel to begin the process of getting it out by contracting.  The soluble fiber gel is what makes passing the stool a much smoother release.

The bulkier and faster moving your stool is, the less likely it is to stay in our body (in the large intestine).  When stool sits in the large intestine too long, the body can absorb cancer causing agents from it.  The faster these agents enter and leave the body, the less like it is to cause any problems.

How to Eat More Fiber

Putting more fiber in your diet can be as simple as this…

• Soluble Fiber- beans
• Insoluble Fiber- whole grain cereal, raw vegetables (most popular is corn)

If getting the proper amount of fiber in your diet is not possible everyday, consider looking into taking a fiber supplement.  It can be hard to see the necessity of consistent fiber intake because there are so many over the counter medicines to relieve constipation; unfortunately, to some, it makes taking a fiber supplement seem unnecessary.  While medicines for constipation do work as temporary relief, stick to your wisdom of knowing that the reason we need fiber is to make the passing of stool fast and smooth.  If you are constipated, the stool has sat in your intestine too long and that is what you should avoid. 

 As the years go by, many are a witness to the increasing health problems in friends and family who historically had unhealthy diets.  Today, be encouraged to take care of your body early on and save your life in the years to come from preventable illness.

Without further delay, eat more fiber!