Consuming a high-fiber diet has many benefits, but the most pivotal is how it can improve and boost your digestive health. In fact, for the millions of Americans living with chronic digestive issues, a simple change in diet could relieve many of the irritable, uncomfortable and sometimes even debilitating symptoms. Rather than reaching for an over-priced, quick-fix drug, many would be surprised that focusing on getting natural fiber from a healthy, natural plant-based diet could be the solution.
The truth about society's digestive problem
As Dr. George Malkmus writes in the book, "The Hallelujah Diet," instead of trying to reverse or cure the digestive troubles with a medical remedy, you should be listening to what your body is trying to tell you in the first place. Prescription pills and medicines aren't the answer; they simply mask the immediate physical symptoms. Yet in the culture of the 24/7 news cycle bombarding you with messages about diet trends, detox fads and one too many Pepto-Bismol commercials, it can be difficult to navigate what is true and what is not. But if you remember to always listen to your inner being, that is where the truth resides.
"And patients continue eating the foods that make them sick, because they are taking pills that silence the warning signals God deliberately and purposefully built into the body," wrote Rev. Malkmus.
"Naturally healing digestive complications is actually quite simple."
The path to naturally healing digestive complications is actually quite simple, according to Dr. Neal Barnard's contribution to "The Hallelujah Diet." For example, people who regularly consume foods with little to no fiber are setting themselves up for constipation. Processed and refined foods, meats and dairy especially are bound to lead to complications for the digestive tract. These foods with no fiber can cause constipation and at worst, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. As one of God's newborns in this world, your body's digestive enzymes are able to break down the lactose sugar found in milk and dairy, but as you get older your body no longer has the same capabilities to break it down.
As Psalm 81:10 reads, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things."
God wants us and our bodies to be nourished and healed with the natural foods of the earth. Thus, normal function of the digestive system begins with a diet filled with plant-based foods rich in fiber and the elimination of non-plant-based foods.
The importance of incorporating fiber
The edible part of plant foods that cannot be digested by humans, dietary fiber, is found in fruits, vegetables and grains and is key for optimal digestive health. There are two different forms of fiber, soluble and insoluble, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The first form, soluble fiber, aids in slowing down digestion by attracting water and turning to gel during this process. Alternatively, insoluble fiber has been found to quicken the digestive process, helping foods pass easily through the stomach and intestines by bulking the stool. Sources of insoluble fiber include whole grains, vegetables and wheat bran.
When fiber helps to slow down the digestion process, it makes the body work harder and thus, speeds up your metabolism. This is beneficial for not only overall health, but also for those looking to lose weight as well. It can also boost immune health and reduce the risk of disease, as fiber speeds removal of toxins from the body. This is why regular, healthy bowel function is so crucial to overall health.
Additional sources of fiber
Though consuming a natural, plant-based diet is an excellent way to ensure you are getting the necessary levels of fiber each day, but it may not be quite enough to bring you above and beyond normal bowel function to optimal function. That is where digestive health supplements come in. One of the natural diet supplements for digestive health is the Fiber Cleanse Powder. A high fiber cleanse that helps cleanse the colon and restore optimal bowel function, this Fiber Cleanse has 28 herbs in a flaxseed and psyllium base. It also promotes timely removal of toxins from the body. It's advised for use during the first two to three months on The Hallelujah Diet.
Another fiber cleanse product, the multi-nutrient powder B-Flax-D provides a key source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. In addition to the stabilized ground flaxseed it contains, it also has Omega-3 essential fats, Vitamins B12 and D and Seleno-Yeast. These prevent nerve damage, aid the body in absorbing essential minerals and protect the immune system by preventing the formation of free radicals that can harm the body. B-Flax-D is formulated specifically for long-term use, providing an easy transition for those who have been using the Hallelujah Acres® Fiber Cleanse product.
