Fiber: Another Word for Real Food

There's a big emphasis on fiber these days. Eat more fiber. Check the fiber content. Dietary fiber. Soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber. Fiber fiber fiber!

And yes! It is very important. It's important for staying at a healthy weight and for preventing diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. It's also something that naturally resides in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. That's doesn't include refined flour (white bread) - think oatmeal, legumes, brown rice. So when you're told to eat more fiber, don't first reach for the Metamucil. Instead, up your fruit and veggie intake and fill your diet with foods our bodies are meant to digest. The Mayo Clinic provides a comprehensive list of foods and fiber content here.

The more we learn, the more we are led to simplify our diets and the easier it becomes to stay on a healthy path.