Encouraging Health

you’ve taken a walk down the bread aisle lately, you know what a wall of bread looks like. Who has time to read every label for the best fiber deal?

So don’t. Before you head to your local health-food store, check out this list of some of the best low-calorie, high-fiber bread options on the market today — brand names included.

Top 4 Choices
A high-fiber diet boasts a whole lot of health benefits, write Steven G. Pratt, MD, and Kathy Matthews in their book SuperFoods HealthStyle. That’s because foods packed with fiber tend to brim with disease-fighting phytonutrients. Here are Pratt and Matthews’s top choices for breads that are high in fiber and nutrients, yet calorically moderate.

Manna from Heaven (Julian Bakery), 8 grams fiber, 85 calories per slice
Healthseed Spelt (French Meadow Bakery), 4 grams fiber, 81 calories per slice
Vogel’s Soy & Flaxseed Bread (Schwebel’s), 3 grams fiber, 100 calories per slice
The Original Bran for Life Bread (Food for Life Baking Company), 5 grams fiber, 80 calories per slice
A Better Breakfast
A slice of one of these fiber-rich breads in the morning will have you well on your way to the 6 grams of fiber RealAge experts recommend for your breakfast. But high-fiber toast isn’t the only way to start your day.

Why do I need fiber in my diet?
Dietary fiber is the part of plants that cannot be digested. There are 2 kinds of dietary fiber. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to keep foods moving through the digestive system. Soluble fiber holds water which, in turn, softens the stool for easy bowel movements. Fiber is an important part of your diet even though it passes through your body. A high-fiber diet can:

reduce cholesterol levels
promote regular bowel movements
improve blood sugar levels in diabetics
treat diverticular disease (inflammation of part of the intestine) and irritable bowel syndrome (abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation that come and go).
A high-fiber diet may help prevent some cancers, such as colon and breast.

If you do not have enough fiber in your diet, you may have
nstipation. Your bowel movements may be small, hard, and dry, which may lead to hemorrhoids or colon cancer.

Need some good news? check out Preparing for a crazy Christmas.

fiber, bread

fiber, bread