Wednesday, October 28, 2009

FAQs - PHHP Phyto Fiber

FAQs

1. What is fiber?
Fiber is part of plants that cannot be digested by humans. It provides plants their strength and structure. Fiber is found in grains, cereals, oats, fruits, vegetables, psyllium husk, nets, seeds and legumes (dried beans, peas and lentils). However, fiber found is only in the plant kingdom, while animals like meat, fish and milk products do not contain fiber.

2. Why is fiber important?
Health experts believe that health begins in the colon, and supplying your body with adequate fiber every day is essential to bowel and colon functions. Fiber promotes good digestive health and prevents constipation along with its potential complications. Diets high in fiber also help to control weight by making you feel full longer after a meal and less likely to snack.

3. Who needs fiber?
Everyone should consume fiber daily especially for those diabetics, overweight or obese populations.

4. How many fibers should I consume daily and how to consume?
Nutrition recommendations are for 20-35 grams total of all types of fiber per day. Adding fiber gradually to your diet, you are also encouraged to drink more fluids when you increase the amount of fiber you eat. The recommended amount of water is eight glasses a day.

5. How long do they take to work?
You should notice the beneficial effects within 8 – 12 hours because everyone’s system is different.

6. How does fiber affect the intestine tract?
Fiber will enhance the peristaltic movement of gastro-intestinal tract. Its gummy substance can lubricate the intestine to help the stool elimination and promotes healthier intestine.

7. Can fiber really help me to control body weight?
Fiber will prolong the retention of food in the stomach and provides a sense of fullness. These actions can help you limit calories. Besides that, a healthy diet and regular moderate exercise is also very important to help a person control body weight.

8. Can high-fiber diets produce mineral deficiencies or remove “good” bacteria?
Current studies indicate that fiber does none of this. In fact, friendly bacteria actually feed on fiber and thrive in a high-fiber diet.

9. Will there be any side effect if we consume high fiber supplementary food in long terms?
If the high fiber supplementary food is made from natural ingredient, it won’t be like some laxative that will loosen your intestinal tract, in reverse, fiber will enhance the peristaltic movement of gastro-intestinal tract, promotes healthier intestine and its function. So you can consume it freely if the product is purchased from reputable company.

10. Why do some people have the feeling of dehydration after taking high fiber product?
It is because they do not take enough water, as fiber is capable in absorbing water, so it will sometimes cause you that feeling. It is easy to solve this problem by taking enough water, at least 8 – 10 glasses a day. In addition you can take some supplementary food in order to replace the lost electrolytes through water.

11. For people who want to lose weight, beside taking fiber, what advice on food should they take as precaution?
Make sure having balanced diet in order to meet the daily requirement. They should prevent high calories and high fat food such as fried food and high starchy food. On the other hand, fresh fruit and vegetables are good for them, as these food are low in calories but high in minerals and vitamins, which will enhance the functions of body.

12. Does fiber enhance beauty?
Dietary fiber helps our body in colon cleansing and reduces the absorption of toxin. In addition, besides fiber, some food (like roselle) are also rich in vitamin C, so it possesses certain beauty enhancement.