Fiber Intake

What is fiber, and why is it crucial? Let me share my experience of discovering the importance of fiber intake. A few years ago, I was juggling a daytime job from Monday to Friday while attending night school. Like many of you reading this blog, I had no time for myself. I worked in a hospital and lived on tuna sandwiches from our hospital cafeteria, made with whole wheat bread, but I didn't consume any vegetables or fruit for over a year. I constantly felt lethargic, upset, and negative because I wasn't eliminating toxins from my body due to a lack of fiber, sufficient water, or exercise. I thought that was just how life was—school, work, and no personal time. I was mistreating my body. I was raised on a farm with an abundance of vegetables, which I disliked, but they were what we grew, along with plenty of fruit, which we could easily pick from the trees.

I met a nurse at the hospital who was selling vitamins, and I shared my problem with her. I thought it was easier to solve my issue by taking a pill rather than going to the market, preparing food, and hitting the gym. I ended up buying the vitamins for a few months, and I must admit, they worked—I felt much better. My mood improved, and I had more energy, though not completely. However, the vitamins became too expensive for me, especially since I was also paying for a gym membership I hadn't used in three years. Financially, I was struggling at that time. I had to be honest with myself, so I calculated how much I was spending on vitamins and the gym membership each month without utilizing them. I had to decide what to cut out. The vitamins had to go, and I kept the gym membership. I turned my life around and haven't looked back. I realized what was missing in my diet. I was always bloated, and inflammation was clearly an issue. I got fed up with feeling unwell.

I began meal prepping on my days off for all my meals, increased my water intake, and within two months, the weight started melting away. My skin became radiant, and my bloating disappeared. I know it can be challenging to consume the recommended 25 grams of fiber for women and 38 grams for men, depending on age. I find it easier to incorporate smoothies and juicing to help with all the chewing required for fiber intake. When I don't consume enough fiber, my gut reacts negatively, and toxin elimination doesn't occur; my mood is influenced by my fiber intake. Here's to your fiber intake journey.

Fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate present in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. It supports digestive health by adding bulk to stools and preventing constipation. Additionally, it helps regulate blood sugar by creating a gel-like substance that slows sugar absorption into the bloodstream. Soluble fiber also helps lower cholesterol by removing it from the body. Fiber offers numerous other benefits. Follow my blog for further tips.