High Fiber Foods: The Key to Heart and Digestive Health

Everyone knows that fiber is good for digestion. With tons of TV ads and commercials promoting fiber rich supplements, the point has been made clear to the public.

The good news is you don’t need to buy supplements to get fiber working in your body; it comes naturally from the regular food that we eat. All that needs to be done is identify these High Fiber Foods and consume them on a regular basis.

High Fiber Foods and Digestive Health

The fiber that we consume by eating fruits and vegetables are called dietary fiber. These mainly come from plants. Since our body cannot process fiber, it goes down to the colon to maintain regularity. It also helps prevent constipation.

There are 2 types of dietary fiber: insoluble fiber and soluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber pertains to fiber that does not dissolve in liquid. This fiber moves in the digestive tract and acts as a binder that increases the stool’s volume. Some of the common sources of this fiber are whole grain foods and nuts.

Soluble fibers, on the other hand, can take-in water. This helps to form the texture of the stool. Most fruits are rich in soluble fiber.

High Fiber Foods and Heart Health

Fiber also plays a part in maintaining a healthy heart. Studies show that people who take more fiber in their diet have lesser CRP in their body; CRP stands for C Reactive Protein which is associated to heart disease. This has also been identified as one of the factors that causes stroke.

High Fiber Foods List:

Here is a list of foods that are high on fiber.

Fruits

• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Apricots
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Pear
• Banana
• Blueberries
• Figs
• Peaches
• Avocado
• Raspberries

Vegetables

• Beets
• Green beans
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrot
• Spinach
• Cauliflower
• Onions
• Brussels sprouts
• Peas
• Corn

Nuts

• Pistachio
• Pumpkin seeds
• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Peanuts

Whole Grains

• Whole Wheat Pasta
• Bran cereal
• Brown Rice
• Oats