Soluble vs Insoluble Fiber - Why MicrobeFiber Works So Well

By Alex White, MD

Image courtesy of wikimedia.org

While most people know they need fiber in their diet, what they don’t know is that all fiber is not created equal.  More to the point, there are actually two different kinds of fiber: soluble and insoluble.  While this might sound like splitting hairs, having a better understanding of fiber can make a big difference to your wellbeing.

The Goo in You

Soluble fiber is hydrophilic, which means that it attracts fluid in your body, which causes it to form a goo that slows digestion.  This gives your intestinal tract the time it needs to absorb essential vitamins and minerals.  Foods loaded with soluble fiber include asparagus, barley, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, citrus fruit, flaxseeds, lentils, nuts, oats and sweet potatoes. 

Don't Be a Turkey

By Alex White, MD

Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

The Pilgrims started off the tradition of Thanksgiving back in 1621.   Evidence suggests that the 1st Thanksgiving dinner offered everything from deer and duck, to squash, carrots, beans, spinach and mussels.  (Nobody is sure if turkey was included.) While there was no cranberry sauce, the feast surely featured wild blueberries, gooseberries and grapes.

Far from having pumpkin pie, the settlers had not yet built an oven.  However, according to some accounts, early English settlers improvised by hollowing out a pumpkin, before filling the shell with milk, honey and spices to make a custard by roasting the gourds in hot embers.  Yum!

Take a Load Off – Lose Weight by Eating More Fiber

By Alex White, MD

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

When most people think about dieting, they think about eating less.  This is due to the fact that traditional diets work by reducing the number of calories you consume.  The thinking is that by reducing caloric intake, the body will naturally have less fuel to burn.  Once it runs out of food, it will then begin to burn fat.  The problem with this philosophy is that modern science has proven this tenet to be in error.