Here's Why you need Dietary Fiber

Dietitians, Nutritionists, Fitness Experts or General Physicians, everyone stresses upon including dietary fiber in your daily diet. There are many reasons why dietary fiber is recommended by one and all. However, all sources of dietary fiber are not created equal. Different sources and different types of fiber have different benefits and functions.

Let’s look at a few reasons why your body needs dietary fiber and which form is good to serve which purpose.

1. Improves Gut Health

Dietary Fiber improves your gut health by feeding your microbiome. However, your good bacteria cannot utilize most of the insoluble fiber. But it can readily metabolize soluble fiber which dissolves in water.

2. Aids Weight Loss

A diet rich in fiber aids weight loss by firstly reducing the calorie intake and secondly by soaking water in your intestines and making you feel full for longer. Again soluble fiber is what really helps aid weight loss.

3. Controls Blood Sugar Levels

Fiber rich foods are low Glycemic and can control blood sugar levels from spiking after a high-carb meal. Include soluble fiber if you are particularly eating it to keep a tab on your blood sugar.

4. Relieves Constipation

It’s a general notion that fiber relieves constipation. However, certain fibers relieve constipation while some just make it worse. Fiber that increases water content in your stool relieves constipation, while fiber that just adds dry mass to your stool without increasing the water content may aggravate constipation.

Psyllium (aka Isabgol) is a fiber that relieves constipation by forming gel in the stools. Prunes are good too as they contain sorbitol that is a natural laxative.