High Fiber Fasting - High Fiber Supplements

The importance of high fiber foods and fiber supplements during a fasting cure and after fasting

The whole point behind fasting is to get rid of all the accumulated debris and the toxins in the body.

Fasting is advocated primarily for the internal cleansing (-> colon cleansing) of the human body. Our modern lifestyle with all its ramifications has led to a lot of toxins and pollutants being ingested unknown to us. A lot of health problems small and big have crept up due to this. The digestive system gets rested during fasting and the body gets down to the business of extracting the waste and toxins from its tissues and cells (see also -> detoxification -> what happens in a cell during fasting?).

Now what must be kept in mind is that the body needs energy to do this process and therefore not everyone can fast randomly. Fasting must be done under medical supervision as far as possible. Your diet, while fasting, must account for all proteins, minerals and vitamins because your aim is to get rid of bad elements in the system not starve the body of nourishment.

Fiber is a very important player in the whole cleansing and digestion business. We hear a lot of people talking about fiber but what exactly is fiber? According to its definition, ‘Fiber is a virtually indigestible substance that is found mainly in the outer layers of plants.’

The importance of fiber lies in its ability to:

• Influence the digestion process from start to finish
• Fiber requires that food be chewed thoroughly so the eating process is slowed down
• Fiber makes you feel full
• Digestion and absorption is slowed down by fiber so the entry of food glucose into the bloodstream is slow and blood sugar is kept on an even keel. 
• Fiber breaks down in the colon 
• Fiber is instrumental in keeping stools soft and the contents of the intestines move along smoothly.

Some foods which are rich in fiber are natural cereals, wholegrain breads, beans, fruits, vegetables and nuts but bran is the only one that has the highest fiber content at about 25% to 45%. Did you know that plants are the only ones who produce fiber? Animal products do not contain any fiber - not in eggshells, not in bones and not in the chewy parts.

There are two types of fiber and they act in the body in different ways.

Insoluble fiber is fiber which does not dissolve in water and this makes it good as a laxative. It includes pectin, gums, cellulose and hemicellulose. 

On the other hand soluble fiber dissolves in water. It has a positive effect on body chemistry as it aids the lowering of cholesterol and sugar in the blood.

Now that we are aware of what fiber is, what it does and how it helps the digestive system, it gives us a good idea as to why fiber cannot be ignored in our daily diet.

During fasting, vegetable juices , being a rich source of fiber, help keep the nutrition levels in the body so that the body is not starved. Fiber also helps in the body’s job of eliminating toxins and other pollutants. 

So irrespective of the type of fast you are undertaking, make sure that your body’s requirement of fiber is not compromised and ensure that your diet includes fiber so you get the best out of your fast.