What is Fiber/Fibre?

As we reach a stage in life, where we get to take care of kids as a mother, we get lots of questions and only in that time we tend to learn more about food and show eagerness to know more about healthy nutrition. We do worry a lot about our kids and in our minds so many questions will arise. Does my child eat enough? Are they healthy? Lots and tons of questions like that every day.

I am in that stage now and all my friends and neighbors who is having the greatest task of all, mothering kids ask and share their questions and worries with me. The most of the problems they encounter with kids , is constipation. Many parents complaint about how much struggle the kids go through with constipation. Not only kids, many of the adults I know deal with the same problems.

Only when the constipation problem comes everyone tend to think about the solution. And only at that time they learn about the term Fiber. It is mainly because in our adult lives, we cannot seem to find enough ways to make fiber our part of nutrition.

Mostly everyone is having the idea , that the fiber is only a micro nutrient or it can be taken only when needed or occasionally. This is what I realized after watching all our senior people’s diet.
So I want to emphasize the facts about fiber here and bring the fascination over fiber, which should be in the top of everyone’s nutritional requirements list.

What is Fiber?

Dietary Fiber consists of nondigestible carbohydrates that are available only from plants.
These are resistant to human enzymes. So they pass into the human intestine relatively intact. So they cannot provide energy to the body. They provide very little calorific value.

What are the kinds of Fiber?

Fibers are of two kinds. Soluble and Insoluble.
Soluble – These kinds of fibers are soluble in water. They are found in structural material of cell wall of plant food. It adds bulk to stool and softens the stool. It is found in skins of various fruits, bran etc.
Insoluble – they are soluble in water and so bring the gummy or gel like nature to the food eaten. It is found in pulp of fruits, legumes greens etc.

Thus the major sources of dietary fiber are whole grains (unrefined grains like whole wheat, brown rice, oat bran), legumes, vegetables, fruits and nuts.

Why is dietary fiber so important?

Even if fiber brings no energy and less calorific value it is more important in any diet because it does a great deal of other good things and brings lots of physiological effects in the body. Lack of these fibers in the diet, can result in inadequate fecal bulk and may detract from optimal health.

Gastric emptying and satiety:

Consumption of soluble fibers expands the food taken and thus delays the gastric emptying process. This also delays the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients
once in the small intestines. So the extended stay of nutrients brings satiety and fullness.
So the dietary fibers are considered as an important component in weight loss diets. Thus soluble fibers and water together help in weigh control and maintenance.

Laxation:

Dietary fibers add bulk to stool and bring effective laxation in humans. This helps to prevent constipation, appendicitis and other intestinal problems by keeping the fecal bulk, moist and easy to eliminate.
Because of the greater bulk and speed of foods through the digestive tract, it is believed that harmful substances cancer causing agents ( carcinogens) are also swept out before they can cause problems .Less carcinogenic exposure to the colon may mean fewer colon polyps and less cancer, Thus fibers helps to prevent colon cancer and other types of cancers too.

Normalizing the blood cholesterol levels:

Soluble fiber lowers total and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. Consumption of fiber containg foods and supplements thus help to prevent Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Atherosclerosis.

Reducing blood sugar levels :

High-fiber diet may reduce insulin requirements and increase insulin resistance, improving blood sugar levels overall. Thus dietary fiber helps in treatment of diabetes and to prevent diabetes. The secondary benefits of a high-fiber diet for diabetes include its lower calorie (energy), fat and simple carbohydrate content, which may explain its beneficial effects in weight management.

So add fiber everyday, keep the doctors away.

What is the treatment for Diabetes?

How is diabetes treated?

Type 1:
Today, healthy eating, physical activity, and taking insulin are the basic therapies for type 1 diabetes. The amount of insulin must be balanced with food intake and daily activities. Type 2:
People who have Type 2 diabetes are often able to treat their diabetes with dietary changes and a weight-control program, if needed. This consists of balancing a healthy combination of foods and exercise.
Food:

Proper nutrition is a very important part of staying healthy—for everyone—and especially for a person with Type 2 diabetes. Since food affects how much glucose is in the blood, people with Type 2 diabetes must pay careful attention to the food they eat, how much they eat, and when they eat it. In particular, since carbohydrates are the body's main source of glucose, many people with diabetes estimate the amount of carbohydrates in each meal. Food rich in Fiber, low salt, low carbohydrate diets are mainly recommended for the patients.

The easiest and best way is to start herba life products. Herbalife has no cholesterol, low carbohydrate, no transfat and low salt. It is rich in protein and full of essential nutrients and fiber. Also Herbalife is the only foods, which provides enzymes, and ginger and other nutrients that facilitate assimilation of the nutrients in to our body effectively .So that way herbalife is the ideal food for diabetic patients.

Exercise:

Just like healthy eating, exercise is something that is important for everyone and especially for people with Type 2 diabetes. Exercise helps insulin work better to control the level of glucose in the blood. Exercise also helps keep people with diabetes at the right weight, and it helps maintain a healthy heart and blood vessels. By Healthy nutrition and physical activity and use of medications (if needed) By doing so they can lower the risks. In addition, many people with type 2 diabetes require oral medication, insulin, or both to control their blood glucose levels.

The other management measures needed are

• Stop smoking and alcohol
• Stress management Maintain Blood pressure (goal <> 45 men, > 55 women)
• Maintain Blood glucose (goal 80-120 before meal, 100-140 bedtime )

The life style can affect the Blood pressure, blood Cholesterol and blood glucose level. So a change in lifestyle is pretty much needed.

All about Diabetes

Almost everyone knows someone who has diabetes. Almost 7% of the population in US have diabetes, a serious, lifelong condition. In 2005, about 1.5 million people aged 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes. Most of these cases are a direct result of poor eating habits, higher body weight, and lack of exercise.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—caused by lack of insulin or insulin resistance. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, simple sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.
After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach. When we eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells.

In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body in the urine. Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

What are Types of Diabetes?

Type 1 - insulin dependent diabetes, where there is a lack of insulin production by the pancreas and needs treatment by insulin injections to stay alive. It is an autoimmune disease most often occurs in children and young adults.

Type 2 – diabetes, where the body is still producing insulin but either not enough and or the body is resistant to it. It is more common than type 1 diabetes.

Gestational –diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin. Women with gestational diabetes may not experience any symptoms.

Who Is At Greater Risk Diabetes?

Type 1:

Siblings of people with type 1 diabetes.
Children of parents with type 1 diabetes.

Type 2:

People with a family history of diabetes.
People who are overweight.
People who do not exercise regularly.
Women who have had a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds at birth.

Of these factors the most significant factor is Obesity. There is a direct relationship between the degree of obesity and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and this holds true in children as well as adults. It is estimated that the chance to develop diabetes doubles for every 20% increase over desirable body weight.

What are the risks associated with Diabetes?

Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body. Because a person with diabetes may not process fat properly, there tends to be damage to the blood vessels in the body, which increases the chances for high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Diabetes can also have long-term effects on the eyes, because tiny blood vessels in the retina* become weakened. If these blood vessels burst, they can cause bleeding and scarring in the eye, or even blindness. The chance of nerve damage, and of developing kidney disease, is also increased in a person with diabetes. Finally, foot health can become an issue for people with diabetes, because the condition can affect circulation to the feet, small cuts or wounds can turn into serious infections without proper care. Adults with diabetes are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, at least 65 percent of those with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.

People with diabetes must take responsibility for their day-to-day care. Much of the daily care involves keeping blood glucose levels from going too low or too high. When blood glucose levels drop too low—a condition known as hypoglycemia—a person can become nervous, shaky, and confused. Judgment can be impaired, and if blood glucose falls too low, fainting can occur. A person can also become ill if blood glucose levels rise too high, a condition known as hyperglycemia.