Fiber Fuels the Microbiome
Your Microbiome NEEDS Fiber
Most people are at least vaguely aware that fiber is an important and necessary part of our diet, but most people aren't aware of just how big of a role fiber plays in our health. Fiber is absolutely crucial when it comes to gut health, which is one of our main areas of focus when treating conditions such as autoimmune disease. The health of our gut is tightly linked to the health of our immune system and to our overall health, and rich and diverse supplies of fiber are one of the biggest keys to ensuring our gut stays healthy.
What Is Fiber?
Dietary fiber is the portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely broken down by human digestive enzymes and so is either passed through the digestive system or broken down by gut bacteria.
Dietary fiber is made up of two different types: soluble and insoluble fiber.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water, slows down digestion, and is found in and around plant cells. This type of fiber gets broken down by our gut bacteria and provides high-quality nourishment to these crucial micro organisms. This type of fiber is plentifully found in food such as legumes, berries, apples, potatoes, peas, and oats.
Insoluble fiber makes up the structure and shape of plants. This type of fiber is not digested and absorbed by your intestines or your gut bacteria. This is a good thing! This helps to move waste products through your digestive system so that you stay regular and your gut stays clean. This type of fiber is found abundantly in most plant foods especially nuts, seeds, pseudo-grains, and fruit skin.
Why Do We Need Fiber?
Our gut health absolutely depends on it. The micro organisms that live inside our gut are like little factories that produce beneficial enzymes, chemicals, compounds, and fatty acids as long as we keep feeding them the food they like to eat. And that food is, of course, fiber.
We all depend on these gut bacteria to maintain the health of our immune system, especially, since highly specialized immune cells that protect us from autoimmunity such as T-Regulatory cells are only created via instruction from our bacteria. If we aren't feeding these bacteria the fiber they need to thrive and proliferate, the chances of our immune system malfunctioning begins to become a serious possibility.
Furthermore, due to fiber's ability to slow digestion and the absorption of sugar, it plays a major role in the regulation of our blood sugar levels. This study shows the direct correlation between a high fiber diet and a major decreased risk of developing diabetes.
Don't Overlook Your Fiber Intake
We could spend a whole book writing about the numerous benefits of a high-fiber diet from it's benefits to cardiovascular health, digestive health, immune health, blood sugar regulation, and much much more. It's a crucial aspect of your diet and one of the BIGGEST benefits you enjoy by being on a plant based diet. Fiber comes from plants, so people who aren't eating enough plants are not eating enough fiber, and most Americans are already far too low in fiber intake.
Avoid meat, eat plants, and rest easy knowing that you're enjoying better health and longer life.
God Bless,
Mercy Ballard