CONSTIPATION:If you''re having fewer than three
bowel movements a week, and the
stools are
hard and dry, you''re constipated.
CONSTIPATION can result from
lack of fiber,
but also from too little exercise and certain medications and
supplements.Prevention: If your constipation is diet-related, try adding more
fiber-rich foods such as apples, raspberries, carrots, broccoli, or whole
grains to your diet.
Boosting your
fiber intake can help form soft, bulky stools, relieving and
preventing constipation. Be sure to add fiber slowly so your body gets used to
it. And help yourself stay regular by drinking plenty of fluids and exercising
regularly.CHOLESTEROL:Heart Disease: Studies show that a
heart-healthy diet low in saturated fat and
CHOLESTEROL and high in produce and
whole grains can lower blood cholesterol by 0.5% to 2% for every gram of
soluble fiber eaten daily.Diabetes: Fiber not only helps with diabetes management, but it may
also be a powerful preventative.ancer: About one-third of cancer deaths may be diet-related,
according to the National Cancer Institute.HAEMORRHOIDS:Hemorrhoids, swollen veins near the anus and lower rectum, can develop when
pushing or straining to have a bowel movement.
Eating a high-fiber diet packed with produce and whole grains, and drinking
plenty of liquids, can help prevent and relieve hemorrhoids by keeping stools
soft so they pass through the digestive systems more easily.IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME:With IBS, the nerves and muscles in the large
intestine are extra-sensitive to certain foods -- or lack of them -- resulting
in cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and
constipation.
More abstracts about the 4 Warning Signs Your Diet May Lack Fiber