7 High Fiber Foods to Add to Your Diet Today

by Aviva Natural Health Solutions August 09, 2010

Mario Carini

Diet, of course, is important. What you eat determines how your health will be tomorrow. The typical diet of highly processed junk food with its content of fats, sugar, sodium and chemicals is simply unhealthy, but few seem to have the energy needed to make a start toward a healthier body and mind.

If you aspire to change your lifestyle, you need to avoid eating those refined foods you’re used to and switch to a diet that includes fiber. There are seven foods that provide your fiber needs.

Add Flax Seed

Flax seed is loaded with fiber and is a convenient substitute for the omega-3 oils found in fish if fish isn’t to your liking. Flax is hard to digest so you will need to grind the seed to get maximum benefits. Use a coffee grinder and grind up half a cup every day. Two tablespoons of flax a day gives you adequate amounts of healthy fiber. Flax can be used for many applications, from sprinkling it on breakfast cereal to a yogurt parfait.

Eat Your Vegetables

Like grandma always exhorted you to do, vegetables are low in calories but contain the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to function normally. Their protective phytochemicals is a major reason why you should be eating your veggies every day.

Eat Those Fruits

They’re loaded with antioxidants that retard the aging process caused by free radicals. Highly processed diets lead to the proliferation of free radicals which eventually damage the major organs of the body. Fruits, particularly berries, are a powerhouse of antioxidants and can be easily incorporated into cereals, salads and desserts.

Load up on Legumes

Beans are a great source of fiber. Kidney beans, chick peas, lentils are easy to cook and are among the few foods that don’t lose too many of their health properties during the cooking process.

Whole and Natural Grains

No matter if the label on the bread you buy says it comes from 100% whole wheat, the bread is still refined. The more closer the grain is to nature, the healthier it is for you. Avoid white bread, white rice or anything that has been ground to a fine flour. Brown rice, quinoa, pumpernickel and rye breads require more chewing, but they contain far more of the soluble and insoluble fiber you need.

Going Nuts

Far from promoting insanity, nuts are beneficial. Almonds, walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts may not appeal to the palette, but they can be added to most any foods. They make a healthier snack than the chips and cookies most people eat. You can make your own trail mix with raisins, dried fruits, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Only a handful of nuts a day is necessary.

Fiber Supplements

If you have problems with adding fiber into your diet, a good supplement of both soluble and insoluble fiber with no added sweeteners or other chemicals can help add the fiber you need.

When switching to a high fiber diet, it is necessary to take your time adding fiber as too much can cause bloating. But as your body gets used to the new diet, it will respond by cleaning out the toxins that have accumulated, encourage weight loss and help you avoid the many chronic diseases of today.