I know it’s unnatural for women to become obsessed and fascinated by bowel movements, but I am. Really. I can’t believe I’m actually putting this out there for the world to read.
My fascination started with colonics because it seemed like such a logical way to cleanse your system. Kind of like pressure-cleaning the algae off a deck. But because I’m too embarrassed to allow a stranger to stick a small tube up my ass and watch a few four-year-old cheeseburgers make their way into a bag, I soon changed my obsession to fiber. If I could just get enough fiber on a daily basis, those cheeseburgers might never get caught in that intestinal traffic jam in the first place.
Thus began my fiber education.
We all know that fiber is good for us. But do we really know why? Certain types of fiber can help lower your blood cholesterol. Have you ever heard the expression that death begins in the colon? Certain types of fiber aid in bowel function, potentially delaying said untimely death.
I knew none of this when I began my research. I just knew that I needed to get me some of that. Fiber, that is.
The first thing I discovered was that I wasn’t getting near enough of it in my daily diet. Most experts recommend that you consume anywhere from twenty to thirty-five grams of fiber per day. Unfortunately, most of us only get around fifteen. After seven days of keeping a food journal, I found that I was coming in at around ten grams per day. Looking over my meals and snacks, I realized I was being a little too diligent about sticking to a high-protein diet, eating mostly lean meats and low-fat cheeses with a few greens thrown in here and there for good measure.
It was then that I had my fiber “aha” moment. I realized that this getting-enough-fiber business was going to require a conscious effort and a small amount of work on my part. Duh.
I actually knew that proper amounts of fiber would help lower my cholesterol and reduce my risk for heart disease. But I learned that it could also lower my risk for developing some other nasty things such as Type 2 diabetes, diverticulitis and of course, constipation.
Insoluble fiber is constipation’s worst nightmare. Because your body doesn’t digest fiber, it remains bulky in your digestive system and actually expands inside the walls of your intestines to help push through the non-bulky things. Think of insoluble fiber as your own personal Liquid Drano, a handy little tool that keeps your pipes clean and clear and assists in unclogging any blockages. A clean colon has other benefits too, like clearer skin, increased energy levels and better absorption of vitamins and minerals.
If you’re like me and want to keep that clean and clear feeling all the time, make sure you’re getting plenty of insoluble fiber, which includes things such as whole grains, brown rice, barley, bulgur, whole wheat breads, wheat bran, seeds and nuts, and dark green leafy vegetables, just to name a few. Some experts believe that insoluble fiber helps prevent colon cancer by keeping optimal PH levels in the intestines, which prevents microbes from producing cancerous substances, so eat up.
Soluble fibers are the other good guys. They bind with fatty acids and prolong your stomach emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly. They’re also responsible for helping lower your LDL cholesterol and thus reducing your risk for developing heart disease. The soluble fiber superheroes include things such as oatmeal, oat bran, apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, flax seed, and legumes.
Don’t worry so much about whether you’re eating soluble versus insoluble fiber. Just make sure you’re getting enough fiber in general. If you want a little extra boost, consider taking a supplement. You can find a variety of powders, pills, and cookies in any drug or grocery store.
The shallow part of me likes that one of fiber’s biggest benefits is its assistance in helping lose weight and keep it off. (As if potentially prolonging and/or saving my life wasn’t enough.)
I can now honestly say that I’m a fiberholic. I’ve only lost a little bit of weight, but my heart is beating, I’m alive, and I’m tube-free in the butt area and that’s what matters most.
