While at the grocery store, have you noticed that you have more
choices than ever from food manufacturers? Low-fat,
high-protein, low-sodium, and especially high-fiber foods have
become the growing trend impacting our shopping carts, taste
buds and our health. High fiber is no longer the 'neglected
nutrient'. Its role in healthy lifestyles has become the
buzzword for today's health-conscious consumer. The whole-grain
trend has apparently surpassed the low carb movement. Fiberlady
says it's about time.
Continued research encourages the food industry to develop
whole-grain products that are more appealing and acceptable to
you and me. By exploring new technology for grain-processing,
the texture and taste of whole-grain products is being altered.
There is currently marketed a fiber-enriched flour that tastes
and has a similar texture of white bread. The mounting presence
of dietary fiber in our food sources should easily satisfy a
wide range of dietary needs, tastes and choices.
Fiberlady has curiously noticed foods such as cereals, breads
and pastas, the once dreaded low-carbs, have now become the
darlings of health-conscious, high-fiber food fans. There are
good carbs that not only help you with weight loss and control,
but also protect your health.
"The percentage of products being marketed as fiber-enriched has
increased from 2.3 percent in 2000, 2.5 percent in 2001, 2.8
percent in 2002, 3 percent in 2003, to 4.2 percent this year,"
comments Tom Vierhile, the executive editor of Productscan
Online. "Four years of consective growth is pretty good evidence
of a trend." The revisions in the new food pyramid will help
promote the trend for high fiber foods and high-fiber diets as
well.
The daily recommendation of dietary fiber by nutritional experts
is 20-35 grams. Studies support over and over again the health
benefits of consuming high fiber foods. A high fiber diet helps
to protect and prevent cardiovascular disease, reduces the risk
of some cancers,aids in weight loss,lowers cholesterol levels,
and helps regulate diabetes and high blood pressure.
Fiberlady recognizes that we have come along way in the
evolution of our species, but we didn't get this far by eating
highly-refined, processed foods. Fast food for our ancestors
meant grabbing an apple off the nearest tree. There was an
undeniable instinct for nutrient-rich fibrous plants.
Today, we descendants of the apes eat barely enough high-fiber
foods to keep a monkey in bananas. There is a challenging road
ahead to redefine overly-refined foods. The food industry needs
to consciously bridge the gap in nutritional awareness among
consumers. Informative websites are abundant and can address all
of your high fiber questions and/or doubts.
Fiberlady wants you to raise your high fiber IQ and do the same
for the people you care about, choose high fiber foods. Even if
you have to read every nutritional fact on every food label on
the grocer's shelf, choose high fiber foods. Think about the
alternative.
About the author:
Stephanie Shank (a.k.a. Fiberlady) has studied good nutrition
since her days of mothering began 15 years ago which prompted
her commitment to a high fiber lifestyle and the development of
her informative website
High Fiber
Health.
