Eat to Live...Food and Its Role in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

“You are what you eat” as the saying goes has been a proven fact. Much of the illnesses and diseases people suffer from are products of their lifestyle and diet. Here are some pointers of how food can work for and not against your health and well being.

Fiber. Dietary fiber are substances that the human dietary enzymes cannot break down but that the large enzyme bacteria can. The recommended intake is anywhere from 20 to 35 grams daily. What food contain fiber? Whole grains like wheat, fruits, seaweeds, legumes and vegetables are good sources of fiber. There are also fiber supplements in the market like fibrosine, and others. If you want to stick to the natural however, here’s a list of them and their possible effects in one’s health. Fruits like pineapple and chico, legumes such as nuts, oats, seaweeds, malunggay, saluyot and okra can lower blood cholesterol, slows down the transit of food (in the upper digestive tract), slows absorption of glucose, increase the bulk of stool, soften it, which can also be fermented to produce acids that are beneficial. Brown rice, wheat bran, rice, fruits and legumes, seeds, vegetables and whole grains regulate the movement of bowels, hasten transit time in the small intestine, soften the stool, reduce the risk of cancer in the colon, hemmorhoids and appendicitis. As with other food, it is important to observe the right amounts in your fiber intake because if not, they can cause drugs interactions, allergies, drowsiness, and other side effects.

So what are the benefits we get from fiber? Fiber regulates the body’s ability to handle glucose and the hormone insulin which is a major factor in the prevention of diabetes. It slows down the energy consumption, and thus help reduce the desire for sweet and calorie rich food intake…a vital step in weight control. When fiber is mixed with water, they absorb it and swell. Thus the person have a feeling of fullness and have less desire for food. For those suffering from appendicitis and other intestinal disorders, fiber aids in preventing constipation as it acts like a broom in the intestines. So remember…eat to live