fiber

Are Dietary Fiber Supplements Right For You?

We all know there are certain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals we should get everyday. Particularly if we are working on fitness goals, we must fuel our body with those things that will create the best environment for health and wellness. Not only does this make you healthier, it can also help you reach those goals faster and in a way that your results will be far more maintainable in the long run. When it comes to fiber, are dietary fiber supplements necessary for your fitness or are they just another added expense?

Fiber is one of those crucial nutrients. It is found in numerous food sources but is particularly concentrated in whole grains and plants like fruits and vegetables. Getting fiber in your diet isn’t difficult but it’s estimated that very few people get enough fiber everyday. The modern diet is deficient in dietary fiber simply because we don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Dietary fiber supplements seek to fill the nutritional gaps when getting enough fiber through food isn’t possible. Examining the benefits of a high fiber diet and then analyzing your daily fiber intake will give you insight into whether or not a dietary fiber supplement might be right for you.

Fiber has a variety of benefits. Perhaps the most well known is digestive regularity. It’s no coincidence that many natural laxatives are nothing more than dietary fiber supplements. Digestive regularity is crucial in overall health. Not only is it uncomfortable to be constipated, it means your body has become a storage area for waste. Moving that waste out of the body as quickly as possible should be a goal consistently kept in the back of your head.

It’s been said that dietary fiber supplements and fiber in general can also help in weight loss efforts. Of course this is due in part to regular bowel movements but is also because fiber can fill you up. It’s bulky and can make you fill full faster and for longer periods of time than other nutritionally deficient foods.

The list of fiber benefits is long. It’s been suggested that people get 25 grams of fiber per day. I would say this should be an absolute minimum. If you aren’t getting 25 grams, a dietary fiber supplement could drastically improve your health and your chances at fitness success.

For a superior quality fiber supplement, check out Shakeology Boost: The Fiber.

Insoluble Fiber Supplements

j0402390Dietary supplements are on the market to serve a growing need. When we cannot get the nutrients our body needs from the diet we eat, a supplement makes it easy to boost our consumption of these crucial substances. For most people the modern diet is lacking in several key areas. High quality supplements including insoluble fiber supplements can help fill this void.

 

A few weeks back I wrote about soluble fiber supplements. The other type of fiber, insoluble fiber, is different. Insoluble fiber supplements and the fiber itself differs from soluble fiber in that it helps to move things through the digestive system. Insoluble fiber is great for people who struggle with constipation and irregularity. Insoluble fiber doesn’t form a gel in the stomach and instead passes through the body largely intact.

 

It’s always preferable to get your nutrients through the diet. While this isn’t always possible, some good sources of insoluble fiber include: seeds and nuts, corn bran, wheat bran, fruit and vegetable skins, whole wheat products, and vegetables like green beans and dark leafy varieties. By boosting foods with a high insoluble fiber level in your diet, you can increase regularity and comfort. When this isn’t possible or just isn’t enough, finding a high quality insoluble fiber supplement will also do the trick.

 

What many people don’t understand is that the best fiber supplements contain good sources of both type of fiber. Insoluble fiber supplements and soluble fiber supplements are often the same products.

 

Take, for instance, Shakeology Boost. Boost, The Fiber has five important fiber sources within it. Boost contains Inulin to promote regularity while increasing calcium and magnesium, Fructooligosaccharide to stimulate good bacteria and promote overall digestive health, Konjac Fiber to assist in weight maintenance and digestive regularity, Psyllium Seed Husk to curb the appetite and potentially lower cholesterol, and Apple Fiber which assist in the elimination of toxins from the intestines.

 

If you are searching for a high quality insoluble fiber supplement, look no further than Shakeology Boost: The Fiber.

How to Compare Fiber Supplements

shakeology-fiber-iDoing your research before any purchase is crucial in ensuring you have made the smartest purchasing decision possible. Especially when you are looking at a nutritional supplement—making an informed purchasing decision is important. You are seeking a supplement to make your body run more efficiently. Trial and error isn’t the best method when you are talking about nutritional supplements—an error could mean a negative physical reaction or simply money down the drain. For this reason, we tell our customers to compare fiber supplements before spending their money.

 

In order to compare fiber supplements you need to know what fiber does. Fiber plays many important roles within the body. The primary function of fiber, though, is to regulate digestion. In addition, fiber has been shown to reduce cholesterol by absorbing some of the cholesterol from eaten food. Lastly, fiber has also been shown to be an effective tool in weight loss, helping dieters to stay full for a longer period of time and also preventing spikes in blood sugar.

 

The FDA recommends people get around 25 grams of dietary fiber each day. Most Americans fall seriously short of this level. When you compare fiber supplements, you want to ensure you find something that provides a significant amount of fiber but not so much that it will cause dietary distress. In an effort to prevent such distress, gradually adding fiber to the diet can help.

 

Also, when it comes time to compare fiber supplements, take a close look at the ingredients list. Things like psyllium husk, inulin, and apple fiber are all excellent and effective components of high quality fiber supplements. High quality natural components are an indication of effectiveness.

 

Lastly, look for a fiber supplement that gets good reviews. While what works for someone else might not necessarily work for you, knowing that people have had good experiences with a particular fiber supplement certainly increases the chance that you will. With so many products currently on the market, using consumer feedback can be very valuable.

 

Be certain to take Shakeology Boost: The Fiber into consideration when it comes time to compare fiber supplements. A recognizable brand name backed with the service of ExtremeBody Workout, we believe you will find it to be one of the best available.

Using High Fiber Dietary Supplements Safely

j0402390High fiber dietary supplements may be some of the more popular supplements on the market. When it comes to nutrition, people take supplements for those things they can’t get in their daily diet. High fiber dietary supplements can be used to regulate the digestive system, to cleanse the body, and even to assist with weight loss efforts. There are, however, proper ways of using such supplements to ensure you don’t do harm to your body.

 

Fiber plays many important roles in the body, mostly in the digestive system. Fitness programs advocate getting your carbohydrates from whole grain sources largely because the fiber content is greater in those foods. A higher fiber content means you will stay full longer, among other things. And it also means you are getting more bang for your dietary buck. With many fitness plans though, carbohydrates are limited in favor of protein for building muscles. When this is the case, a high fiber dietary supplement can help to give you that fiber your body needs without requiring an increase in carbs.

 

As with many types of supplements, a good quality high fiber dietary supplement can be made bad by poor intentions. It is crucial that you follow the dosing instructions on the package when taking a supplement such as this. The fact is, high fiber dietary supplements will help you lose weight but that weight loss must be kept at a safe rate of 1-3 pounds per week.

 

Use a high fiber dietary supplement to make up for the carbohydrates you aren’t getting in your dietary plan. Fiber will keep things moving, so to speak, through your system and also help you resist food cravings. There are numerous studies on the benefits of fiber in the diet and soon we will be carrying a superior quality fiber supplement to help you achieve your fitness goals.

What Are the Best Fiber Supplements?

FiberFiber is a crucial component to any diet. Not just for people trying to lose weight, fiber is important for everyone. From relieving constipation and improving hemorrhoids to potentially decreasing your risk of heart disease and diabetes, the benefits of fiber are many and getting enough has never been more important.

 

The best fiber supplement or fiber source is natural foods. Supplements are designed to “supplement” your diet, not be your main source of nutrition. We suggest eating plenty of dark leafy greens and opting for whole grains when eating from what used to be called the “bread group”. However, when your diet calls for additional fiber, picking up a fiber supplement is not a bad idea.

 

Like most important nutrients, there are now supplements for people who don’t get enough in their daily diet. While the best fiber sources are natural foods, there are many good fiber supplements out there. The best fiber supplements are those that contain natural ingredients and are effective at delivering high quality fiber without discomfort.

 

There are many options available to supplement manufacturers when deciding the best fiber supplement formulation. Most fiber supplements are made from plants. Don’t think that “all natural” automatically means safe and gentle, however. As with anything you put in your body—be sure to do your research. Online consumer reviews are a good place to look. Be cautious of the review sources, however, as some aren’t as objective as they seem.

 

As always, the best goal when trying to get enough fiber or optimal nutrition in any way is to get it from a balanced, well regulated diet. However, when that isn’t possible, the best fiber supplements will deliver the beneficial nutrient to your body, providing a host of benefits.

 

Check back here often as we will soon be carrying one of the best fiber supplements on the market!

Should you take high fiber supplements?

FiberFiber is a necessary part of your daily diet. But, do you know why? More than likely you don’t. There are many things that we know we “should” be eating but knowing exactly why can make it easier to make those beneficial dietary changes. While many people prefer to increase their fiber intake naturally, for some that just isn’t possible. High fiber supplements certainly have their place. Let’s look at why.

 

Fiber is naturally present in many foods. A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains typically delivers the recommended 25 grams of dietary fiber each day. The modern diet, however, isn’t always rich in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. When this is the case, high fiber supplements are crucial.

 

Dietary fiber is the part of the veggies, fruits, and grains that your body can’t absorb. Many people don’t realize this but fiber passes through the body indigested. It goes through the stomach, intestines, and colon relatively unchanged. Despite this unique passage through the body, it does play an important role.

 

Dietary fiber, whether from foods or high fiber supplements, delivers many benefits to your body. It can regulate digestion, helping you to have regular bowel movements and simply feel better. Dietary fiber can also improve blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol and may be able to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Lastly, it has also been shown to increase weight loss results when paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise.It is believed that a high fiber diet promotes weight loss because fiber has a tendency to make you fuller, faster. In addition, those foods that are high in fiber are also typically lower in calories than their low fiber counterparts.

 

Whether you resolve to eat more fiber rich foods or take a high quality high fiber supplement is up to you. There are many benefits of increasing your fiber intake throughout the day.

Using Dietary Fiber Supplements in Your Weight Loss Plan

j0444475When you are in the process of slimming down, every little bit of help counts. Things can get somewhat confusing, however, when you start to examine all of the different supplement choices that are out there. From protein to creatine, to Omega 3 and multivitamins, it can be hard to know which you should take and which you can afford to skip. You certainly don’t want to be taking a fistful of pills with every meal but enhancing your nutrition with things like dietary fiber supplements can’t necessarily hurt.

 

Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. Naturally found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, fiber is present in those plant-derived foods that are closest to their natural state. In other words, although other carbohydrate products like cookies and French fries contain dietary fiber, they are poor sources. Closer to their natural state, things like oatmeal and sweet potatoes will have higher fiber counts and give you more bang for your caloric buck.

 

As with any supplement, if your diet is perfect you have no use for them. But really, whose diet is perfect? Dietary fiber supplements can be a good addition on days when you can’t seem to get your fiber count up through diet alone.

 

Dietary fiber supplements and fiber through whole foods can assist with your weight loss efforts through a few avenues. Fiber tends to be bulky and can fill you up better than other empty calories. This means a fiber-rich meal is often lower in calories than one that is lacking roughage. Also, because it fills you up, you will tend to eat less.

 

And no discussion of fiber would be complete without talking about its effects on the digestive system. Fiber keeps things moving. Being regular has its benefits both in weight loss and in general health. When you consistently eliminate waste from your body, you find it easier to maintain a steady weight and you just generally feel better.

 

While a dietary fiber supplement is not a must-have, it isn’t a bad product to have around. The American Heart Association recommends 25 grams of fiber each day. On days when you just can’t hit that mark, consider a natural source fiber supplement to make up the difference.

Fill Up and Lose Weight with High Fiber Foods

High fiber foods can help you lose weight. Eating the recommended amount of fiber everyday can keep you fuller longer, letting you eat less and more easily lose weight. Unlike years ago, however, high fiber foods are more in demand now and subsequently taste better. When looking for prepackaged high fiber foods, you are likely to find some tasty varieties out there.
 
There are two type of fiver: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber forms with liquid in the stomach to form a sort of gel. This gel makes you feel full and hangs out in your stomach a while, allowing your body to absorb nutrients. Insoluble fiber, however, does not break down in the body. Insoluble fiber bulks up in the stomach, pushing waste out of your system. Insoluble fiber cleans house, so to speak.
 
Both types of fiber are beneficial to your diet. Another benefit of high fiber foods is they likely have fewer calories and carbs. For instance, high fiber whole wheat bread will have less net carbs than white bread. This is because the carbohydrates in the whole wheat bread are coming from fiber and not sugar.

 

How Much Fiber is Enough?

It is recommended that adults get 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories ingested. This means that if you are on a 2,000 calorie a day diet, you should be getting at least 28 grams of fiber. High fiber foods paired with an optional fiber supplement can easily get you to this attainable goal.

 

Try making some of these high fiber changes in your diet:

  • Change your white rice for brown rice
  • Add a side salad to your lunch or dinner
  • Munch on popcorn instead of potato chips
  • Switch your white bread for a whole wheat or even a “double fiber” variety
  • Increase your daily fruits and vegetable intake
  • Only eat cereals with 5 or more grams of fiber per serving

Doctors recommend you increase your fiber intake gradually for obvious reasons. If you have a hard time fitting all those high fiber foods into your diet, add as much as you can and pair those foods with a fiber supplement.