YoNaturals and Corporate Wellness

Whether you have known for a long time or whether you are just coming around to it, the fact remains: dietary fiber is an essential component of any healthy diet. Researchers have consistently proven that people who consume plenty of fiber in their daily diets benefit from it. These benefits include everything from reducing a person’s risk for heart disease and diabetes to preventing and alleviating constipation. And, in other good news, for many of you, getting your recommended daily dosage of fiber is as easy as evaluating your current eating habits and making small alterations that ensure that your need is being met by the food that you eat.

Before you have a look at that, though, you will need to have a basic understanding of what fiber is. Essentially, dietary fiber is the plant material that you eat and that your body finds indigestible. It is unique in that it will pass through your entire digestive system virtually unchanged by any of the mechanical and chemical processes that your body uses to break down other food stuffs.

Furthermore, dietary fiber is most often classified into one of two categories. It can either be labeled as “soluble” or “insoluble”, and these descriptive terms are doled out based upon whether the fiber dissolves in water or not. As indicated by the name, soluble fiber dissolves in water, producing a gel-like substance, whereas insoluble fiber is unchanged by the presence of water.
Further, the gel-like material that forms when you eat soluble fiber helps reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, whereas the insoluble dietary fiber that you consume does not change form. It simply adds more bulk to your stool, reducing and/or preventing constipation. Both types of fiber are found in almost every aisle at your local grocery store. In fact, legumes, carrots, apples, and oats are common sources of soluble fiber for many people, and soluble fiber can be found in many veggies, whole-wheat flour products, and nuts.

As you continue to learn about the health benefits of a high-fiber diet, you will probably want to increase your fiber intake. And it’s easy to understand why you want to do that. That said, it is always a good idea to speak to your physician or nutritionist or other health care provider before you undertake a major shift in diet, so prepare a list of questions to ask your health professional before you go in to your next appointment. In the meantime, maintain your healthy diet anytime you are away from your home by choosing snacks from YoNaturals healthy vending machines. Think of them as your lifeline to a healthier (and more fiber-conscious) you.

Author: Laura Rayburn