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Dietary Fiber
The importance of a high fiber diet cannot be overstated.
While Americans are told to consume at least 30 grams of fiber daily, this is
insufficient
Why?
When we examine the diets of many third world cultures we find that
they consume, on the average, between 150 and 175 grams of fiber daily! Further
consideration of their state of health reveals that they are not plagued with most of
the "industrialized" disorders which include colon cancer, breast cancer, heart
disease, diabetes, arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, weakened immune systems,
personality disorders, and all of the hormone-based female disorders.
Supplementing with a variety of fibers such as whole psyllium seed husks, powdered
flax seed, guar gum and the variety of brans, can have a positive effect on overall
health and mental function. Because the gelatinous fibers have a binding effect on
toxins in the colon, as well as harmful estrogen metabolites, excess dietary fat and
cholesterol, they are able to assist in the rapid excretion of these materials,
thereby blocking their re-absorption into the bloodstream.
This is an especially important consideration for women who suffer with the symptoms
brought on by estrogen dominance!
Additionally, fibers have been shown to have a gentle brooming effect on the inner
walls of the intestines, performing what might be called "daily house cleaning."
They also increase overall transit time, thereby reducing exposure of the inner
lining of the intestines to dietary (or prescriptive) carcinogens.
As an example, when one pound of meat is charcoal grilled, it contains the equivalent
level of the carcinogen benzopyrene as 300 cigarettes! Test animals fed benzopyrene
quickly develop stomach tumors and leukemia. Meat cooked at high temperature, even
though by other more conventional methods, forms methycolantrene, another carcinogen.
The broad prevalence of dietary and environmental carcinogens alone, certainly
offer a good argument for the adaptation of a high fiber diet and
anti-oxidant supplementation.
A well-rounded program that will promote optimal health must include not less than
100 grams of dietary fiber per day from food and/or supplemental sources.
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