Most of us know that including fibre in our daily diet helps us to stay fit. Modern medicine has many studies to put forward to show that digesting problems and improper bowel movements are the major underlying reason for many other health conditions. The main recommendation to avoid these problems is to include enough fibre in your food. There are various health benefits of soluble fibre in foods. Read on to find more.
Fibre is an important carbohydrate found only in plants that cannot be digested by the human body. The main function of fibre is to support the digestive system and manage its proper functioning. Fibres are of two types – soluble and insoluble fibre. Insoluble fibre helps to increase your stool amount and it reduces constipation. Soluble fibre mixes with water in the intestine and dissolves into a gel-like texture which slows down the digestion process. Many people don’t realize the benefits of soluble fibre in foods.
Health Benefits Of A Fibre-Rich Diet
Soluble fibre is found in fruits, vegetables, oats, oatmeal, barley, lentils, beans, peas, dry fruits, soya milk and soya products. You should eat between 20-35 grams of fibre daily to ensure that you get the full benefits of soluble fibre in foods. Some of the health benefits of soluble fibre in foods are:
Importance of fibre in food is that soluble fibre helps to slow down your body's breakdown of carbohydrates and the absorption of sugar, thus improving the blood sugar level.
One of the best health benefits of soluble fibre in foods is that they helps to eliminate bad cholesterol from our body. Hence, lowering the cholesterol level.
Reducing the risk of heart diseases is one of the major health benefits of soluble fibre in foods. Soluble fibre reduces the risk of heart diseases because it lowers the blood pressure and increase the good cholesterol levels.
Soluble fibre absorbs water in the intestine and transforms it into a gel-like substance. This helps you to feel full longer and that is why soluble fibre helps in controlling your weight.
Diarrhea occurs when the amount of water in the colon is too high. Soluble fibre absorbs excess fluid in the bowel and thereby helps to firm the loose stool.
The major health benefits of soluble fibre in foods is that it is the only food which controls both constipation and diarrhea. It softens the stool and hence relieves constipation.
Patients having IBS always suffer from severe abdominal cramps and changes in bowel movement. Soluble fibre eases the spasms of the colon and thus relieves the abdominal pain associated with IBS.
Dietary fibre plays an important role in improving your skin appearance and health, particularly soluble fibre. Soluble fibre flushes out the toxins in your body, thereby improving your skin health.
Soluble fibre flushes out the cholesterol and naturally decreases the risk of developing painful gallstones and kidney stones. Soluble fibres like oats, carrots and spinach are some soluble fibres used in preventing this condition.
High blood pressure and high bad cholesterol level increase the chances of stroke in humans. As soluble fibre helps in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol level, it reduces the first stroke percentage by 7%.