If you watch much TV, read magazines, newspapers, tabloids, you will notice that more and more we are hearing the word dietary fiber and the importance of fiber in the diet: Fiber helps reduce weight. Fiber helps you think more clearly. Fiber helps reduce cancer. Fiber helps improve bowel activity, but what is it and how does it do that, and are there different types of fiber or is there only one type of fiber? Fiber, as it relates to our diet, is a carbohydrate.

All of the parts of a plant that digestive enzymes cannot break down in our body is considered fiber. When you eat a food high in fiber, it tends to slow down the release of sugars in food. As a side note, it also slows down the release of certain fats in food to be absorbed by our body. As far as weight is concerned and weight control is concerned this is good news, so fiber is our friend.

High fiber diets are definitely recommended for a variety of general health reasons. It is typically recommended that most human beings consume 25 to 50 g of fiber per day with an average being 35 g. People who eat more fiber do not usually suffer from constipation. They have a lower risk of getting bowel cancer, diabetes, and other types of bowel disease. Fiber is a natural constituent of fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, lentils, and whole grains, and if you eat plenty of these foods adding fiber to your diet is not necessary.

However, many of us eat processed foods, fast foods which actually contain very little fiber. In that case, it is important to add fiber to one’s diet. Fiber is calorie-free and it is a natural filler. Eating more fiber in your diet makes you feel full, less hungry.

Foods that are high in fiber are more satisfying because they absorb more water, so they become bulkier in our gut. Wheat fiber as in bran is not a very absorbant fiber compared to some vegetable fibers. Placed in water it can swell to 10 times its original volume. Glucomannan on the other hand, the fiber from Japanese Konjac plant, however, swells to 100 times its original volume. Glucomannan is given to diabetics in Japan because it helps stabilize blood sugar level by slowly releasing carbohydrates into the blood stream, consequently having a less drastic effect on blood sugar elevation.

There are two primary kinds of fiber in our diet or fiber in our foods: Soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Many foods contain both insoluble fibers and soluble fibers.

Insoluble fiber bulks up fecal content. It almost acts like broom. It cleanses the intestine, prevents constipation, and produces better stools.

Soluble fibers are different. They actually dissolve in the gut and form an actual gelatinous-like type substance. This kind of fiber slows down the release of glucose in the blood stream, so it is very beneficial for blood glucose management. It also slows the release of fat into our blood stream which also helps control blood fats.

Whole grains contain both kinds of fiber and slow down glucose release whereas ground fiber, the type you might find in bread, has very little effect in this way.

Fruit and vegetable juices that do not have fiber have a very adverse effect on blood sugar level because of a lack of fiber. It does not slow the digestive process. Sugars are released into the blood stream very rapidly, consequently, elevation of blood sugar level results in elevation of blood insulin levels. The soluble fibers found in beans, lentils, and oats are particularly effective at slowing down the digestion of food and thus blood sugar response.

Insoluble fibers make you feel full immediately after eating while soluble fiber reduces appetite up to 10 hours later and this could be because of the effect on blood glucose in the blood stream. You do not have the sharp spike and elevation of blood glucose and finally the sudden drop in blood glucose level, leaving you feeling hungry. There are quite a few different kinds of fibers in both these categories, but it is important to eat unprocessed whole foods to get the most fiber you possibly can. Of all the fibers, oat fiber is probably the best in terms of controlling blood sugar level which helps in controlling weight.

Some sources of soluble fiber used therapeutically to help with digestion, diabetes, and weight loss are even better. Psyllium and glucomannan, which I have previously mentioned, are soluble fibers that I have found to be the most effective in controlling blood sugar level, so for diabetics, people who are wishing to lose weight, these are the choices to make.

The colon may very well be the unsung hero of our body. Sir Arthur Hurst, a twentieth century physician and prominent figure in medicine once said, “No organ in the body is so misunderstood, so slandered and maltreated as the colon.” Most people think that the colon is no more than an eliminatory organ—many don’t even know what the colon does. Along with the kidney, lymph system, liver, and skin, the colon is an eliminatory organ which helps to clear waste from the body. But did you know that the colon performs vital functions necessary for the body’s overall health and wellbeing? The colon establishes a healthy microflora without which proper digestion and absorption of nutrients cannot take place. Along with other important functions, the colon also aids the regulation of cholesterol and glucose levels of the body.

If your colon is not working at optimal level it can cause a number of issues including constipation, which can lead to irritability, headaches, abdominal bloating and gas, dull skin, bad breath and body odor, and a constant feeling of fatigue. Symptoms like the aforementioned are a few examples of how a sluggish colon can affect every day health.

Irregularity in bowel movement has been considered by physicians, throughout history, as an indicative factor of health. Our general well-being, to a large extent, depends on the proper functioning of our digestive system, which is closely related to colon health.1 Do you suffer from bouts of diarrhea or constipation? These can be symptoms of an unhealthy digestive system.

Most of the food that we eat gets digested in the stomach and small intestine. Proper digestion depends on an optimal microflora and pH environment. A balanced intestinal microflora level is maintained by the colon and an optimal pH depends on a balanced intestinal microflora. Probiotics (good bacteria) also help to keep bad bacteria at bay and has been shown to have a positive effect on immune health. 2

The waste that empties into the colon consists of undigested matter, usually the bulk of fiber. Fiber is acted upon by probiotics found in the colon, resulting in fermentation. During this fermentation process, nutrients are produced which aid the liver to perform its function of regulating cholesterol and glucose levels. It is imperative that we include adequate fiber in our diet for the colon to perform these vital functions.

Another vital function of the colon is to eliminate waste from the body. The accumulation of waste matter in the colon, due to constipation, can slow down the absorption of nutrients. It can result in poor skin health, dull looking eyes, and low energy levels. Excess waste can also produce unpleasant breath and body odor. Being fatigued can also lower immune health and leave you vulnerable and at greater risk for infections. Due to the extra load of waste the colon carries due to constipation, it can put a strain on the rest of the body.

People who regularly use herbal colon cleansers have reported that they feel lighter and have noticed improvements in their skin and brightness in their eyes. Herbal colon cleansers, like BeneCleanse, can help purify the colon and also provide a nutritional maintenance program for supporting colon health.

Herbal colon cleansers help to relieve constipation by aiding the body’s natural process for waste elimination. They also contain herbs which may help in digestion and establish a healthy microflora. Natural herbal colon cleansers have been reported as a non-addictive, gentle and safe method that can help the body to enhance colon health, boost digestion and eliminate waste from the body. Many people who have used herbal colon cleansers have found relief from constipation, as well as regularity in bowel movements, improved digestion and an overall progression in general health.

References:

Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 1996;216:132-48. Short-chain fatty acids in the human colon: relation to gastrointestinal health and disease. PMID: 8726286. Infection and Immunity. 1973 July; 8(1): 30-35. Effect of Colon Flora and Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Growth In Vitro of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. Department of Medicine, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129.

The positive effects of the use of discount vitamins are more prevalent today than in the past. It is estimated that there are approximately 44.3 million people in the United States with a diagnosable mental disorder. These can range from depression, bipolar disorder, and premenstrual syndrome, to schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. In light of those tough statistics, mental health and medical professionals know that keeping the body and physical wellbeing healthy, can actually decrease the symptoms related to most mental illnesses.

The most important step of all is to first see a doctor or mental health specialist, either to be tested and diagnosed or to discuss with them the alternative discount vitamins that are best for your situation. While many of the disorders are rather different from one another, the types of vitamins used to treat them are fairly common.

* Depression – Depression can be a side effect to some other drugs, including oral contraceptives. Your doctor or specialist may want to perform a test on what are called the homocysteine levels in order to check for folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies. If diagnosed with depression, there are several choices in discount vitamins and supplements including folate, vitamin B12, amino acid supplements – specifically the amino acid L-tryptophan, and vitamin B6. Another popular treatment with those who prefer natural medicines is the use of ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo is also used to treat asthma, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease and more.

* Bipolar Disorder – Bipolar Disorder, closely associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder, is naturally treated with some of the same vitamins as depression and anxiety. Most commonly used are a mixture of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, zinc, vitamin B2 and vitamin B complex. Studies have also shown that these same vitamins in addition to biotin, boron, and manganese and fish oil can be used to treat Bipolar Disorder II.

* Anxiety – As one of the most common forms of mental illness, anxiety at certain levels can also cause fatigue, psychological and physical stress, excessive alcohol consumption and even anorexia and insomnia. Anxiety studies have also shown a links to folic acid deficiency. Many treatments include vitamin B12 and folic acid. In recent years, St. John’s Wort has become a popular alternative due the ingredients hypericin and pseudohypericin, which has also shown to be helpful in ceasing anxiety.

* Premenstrual Syndrome (also know as PMS) – For women, this is one of the most common types of disorders. In recent studies, it has been shown that most women do not take the Recommended Daily Allowance for magnesium, which is now believed to be one of the causes for premenstrual syndrome. Magnesium is known for relating to mood changes, so it is one of the most common supplements used in treating PMS. Calcium and vitamin D are also good for premenstrual syndrome. Four servings of skim of low fat milk is a great way to get that extra calcium needed.

* Schizophrenia – Schizophrenia is a disabling and chronic brain disorder that affects approximately one percent of people in the world. Pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the active form of vitamin B6, is very important to the brain functioning normally. This supplement, along with folic acid, methylfolate, niacin, and vitamin C are some of the vitamin supplements used to treat schizophrenics.

Once there has been a determination of the vitamins that can be used in your specific case, purchasing quality vitamins at a discount price is the next step. These can be found anywhere from vitamin outlet stores, the Internet, magazine and on television through home shopping channels. The Internet, being the most convenient way to shop, offers consumers a world of opportunity in finding the best quality discount vitamins at the most reasonable price. The most desirable sites offer considerable information all the vitamins and herbs they sell, showing that they are committed to the overall health and well being of the customers. These sites break down each vitamin and provide an explanation of how it should be used, the dosage amount and size. In addition, some offer their customers health and wellness articles that can provide the most up-to-date information of discount vitamins, health issues, and alternative medicines, in turn giving each customer the ability to make the right decisions in the purchases they make.

Water is another extremely important part of keeping ourselves healthy. To many, water is just water and nothing else, but recently this has changed. Now called “Functional Water” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bottled water is now classified by its origin.

* Spring water – spring water derives from the point where ground water flows, sometimes flowing as a result of snow and ice melting or rain.

* Purified water – This water can come from any source (ocean, spring, well, etc.), but is then purified using a process called reverse osmosis.

* Mineral water – Mineral water contains minerals which can alter or change the taste of the water. This water is one of the most popular types purchased, and commercially offered in over 3000 brands.

* Distilled water – Distilled water is used in many ways, most commonly known for being used to clean car batteries. The water becomes distilled by boiling it and re-condensing the steam into a container, thus removing any contaminants.

* Vitamin added water – As one of the most popular types of water available today, this water is available with or without additional flavors, such as strawberry, lemon or grape. The vitamin water contains distilled water, electrolytes, and vitamins such as C, B6, B12 and E.

No matter the choice of discount vitamins chosen or the type of water that best fits your tastes, these simple and inexpensive additions to everyday life can truly change the way you think and feel. Dealing with a mental illness can be one of the hardest things in life, but there is help available. Making an appointment and speaking to your doctor or a health professional today can give anyone the ability to start living a life that is more fulfilling and happy.