"A high-fiber diet appears to reduce the risk of developing various conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, diverticular disease, constipation and colon cancer. Fiber is important for the health of the digestive system and for lowering cholesterol."
--University of California San Francisco (ucsfhealth.org)
When we eat enough fiber, everything just works better. The
plumbing, that is. Our digestive system, to be specific. Yes, I am talking about bowel movements.
I will never forget one of my wake-up calls about the dietary fiber problem in this country. I was asked to work with a parent whose child had only 1 bowel movement a week (not normal). The child was complaining of chronic stomach pain and missed a lot of school.
On
another occasion I was asked to teach a series of nutrition workshops for kids who
have been abused and/or neglected living in a residential shelter. I saw more
evidence for the need for health literacy education for parents and those
adults who are responsible for the care and well-being of children. What I
observed was the adults who were buying food for the children in the shelter
bought the cheapest bread. It was also
the bread with the least amount of dietary fiber. The staff would complain about kids eating an entire loaf of bread in a day. No wonder, as bread made with refined wheat
flour where the wheat bran has been stripped from the wheat to increase the
shelf life has also been stripped of the dietary fiber that provides satiety
and fills us up.
As you increase the amount of fiber in what you choose to
eat, remember it is important to increase the amount of water you drink.
Dietary fiber plays a critical role in the prevention of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and colon cancer. Reading food labels to see how many grams are in a serving will help you make good decisions for you and your family. After all, we are Growing Healthy Kids, one child at a time!
With love and kindness,
Nancy Heinrich, MPH
Founder and Wellness Architect
