Fiber...a "Moving" Tale

I have never understood why getting enough fiber is so challenging for most people. I have always had a little rule I follow.....avoid foods that have less than 2grams of fiber. That sounds great until you learn the next lesson; you can get too much fiber!!! WOW!! I never knew that before I suffered an awful attack of constipation. I couldn't believe it!! I was sooooo good about my fiber intake. "How could this happen?" I wondered. I was taking a nutrition course in college, so I asked my instructor. It was then and there that I felt like a total idiot. An idiot that had just learned something amazing. I mean, everything in moderation right??? DUH...even good things become not so good in excess. Since then, I still eat quite a bit of fiber but am careful not to consume too much. There are several very tasty treats on the market that have a high fiber content. I try to avoid these now if I am enjoying a full day with all of God's high fiber foods =)
How much fiber should one consume? Well, an average of 21-30 grams a day is a good place to start. At about 50 grams daily you may start to see some ill effects. O_o Staying below 45 grams seems to be a safe bet.
Now assuming you are getting enough fiber....but not too much LOL ....there are many benefits. A diet high in fiber is great if you are trying to lose weight. It takes longer to chew and digest, generally, and once it is in, it keeps you feeling full and satisfied longer. With a high fiber diet, it is also imperative to drink plenty of water. This also keeps that full feeling longer. There is a whole digestive cleaning that occurs with proper fiber intake. Like a small roto rooter it gently scrapes the remnants of other food products from the intestines. This leaves more surface space for nutrient absorption. If your body is feeling true nourishment from the food that is eaten and absorbed, overeating is a bit less likely =) On top of that, there are many wastes that are removed by this process. Less waste equals less toxins in the blood stream. Isn't fiber grand???
So the question is really a matter of where to get this fiber. Most American's favorite foods have very little, if any, fiber content. Read your labels!! Avoid the foods that have less than 2 grams of fiber. Enjoy the many God-given options available such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits and veggies. You can't cook the fiber out of your food, so there is no need to go "raw" and there is no difficulty in picking up a piece of fresh fruit or a veggie. Point being......there are no valid excuses for not consuming enough fiber =) Sorry....