High Fiber Food Chart – Top Foods High In Dietary Fiber

A high fiber food chart helps you know the foods high in dietary fiber. Adding more foods high in dietary fiber from the high fiber food chart can help you obtain the recommended 25-30 grams of fiber each day. Sufficient daily fiber intake is important, not just because of helping the bowels function, but to provide nutrients to friendly bacteria in the digestive tracts.

Low-fiber diets have been connected to numerous diseases and conditions such as colon cancer, constipation, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, hemorrhoids and varicose veins are examples. Correcting low fiber intake for your diet can help you achieve regular bowel movements necessary for optimum health.

Here are top foods high in dietary fiber along with the approximate number of grams of fiber they contain. Fiber contents shown below on the high fiber food chart are for a food quantity of 1/2 cup unless otherwise noted:

• Bananas, 3 grams – medium 8″ long

• Beans, 6-10 grams – baked beans, black beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, garbanzos, pinto beans, white beans

• Berries, 4-5 grams – blackberries, raspberries

• Bran Cereals, 5-10 grams – All-Bran, Bran Buds, 100% Bran, Raisin Bran

• Bread, 4-7 grams – 2 slices whole wheat, pumpernickel, seven-grain

• Broccoli, 4-5 grams

• Brussels Sprouts, 2 grams

• Carrots, 3-4 grams

• Dried Figs, 10 grams – 3 figs

• Fruit, 4 grams – medium apple, medium pear

• Green Beans, 2 grams – broad beans, pole beans, snap beans

• Greens, 4-6 grams – beet greens, collards, kale, spinach, turnip greens

• Lentils, 6 grams

• Lima Beans – 4-6 grams

• Peas, 7-9 grams – black-eyed peas, green peas

• Potatoes, 4-5 grams – medium baked Idaho or sweet potato

• Sweet Corn, 5 grams

When making changes to your diet to include more foods from the high fiber food chart, just add a few grams at a time so your intestinal tract can adjust. And important for bowel health is that adequate liquid be present for good bowel function. Each fiber particle absorbs liquid in the colon which helps facilitate regular movement along in the bowels, so make sure that you are consuming adequate liquids daily.

If you find that after a few weeks of consuming more foods from the high fiber food chart you are still not having a daily bowel movement, consider adding a fiber supplement. One of the best natural foods high in dietary fiber is psyllium made from ground-up psyllium seeds. It may take several weeks to achieve daily bowel movements, but the reward will be that wastes and toxins will be eliminated from your system instead of your body reabsorbing them.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Healthy Food Choices

Eating healthy is something we all would like to do,
although it can be hard. In order to eat healthy, you
must first make the right food choices. Eating healthy
is all about what you eat, which makes the choices very
crucial to your results.

Grains
You should consume 6 ounces of grains per day. To do this,
you can eat 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice,
crackers, or pasta. You can get an ounce of grains in
a single slice of bread, or 1 cut of cereal.

Vegetables
These should be varied, as you should eat 2 1/2 cups of
them each day. You should start eating more of the dark
vegetables, such as broccili and spinach. Carrots and
sweet potatoes are good as well. You should also eat
more dry beans such as peas, pinto beans, and even kidney
beans.

Fruits
Fruits are very important. You should try to eat 2 cups
of them each day. Focus on eating a variety, such as
fresh, frozen, canned, or even dried fruit. You can
drink fruit juices as well, although you should use
moderation when doing so.

Milk
Milk is your calcium rich friend. For adults, 3 cups
is the ideal goal. For kids 2 – 8, 2 cups is where you
want to be. When choosing milk products or yogurt, you
should go for fat-free or low-fat. Those of you who
don’t like milk or can’t have it, should go for lactose
free products or other sources of calcium such as fortified
foods and beverages.

Meat and beans
Eating 5 ounces a day is the ideal goal, as you should go
lean with your protein. When eating meat, always bake it,
grill it, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from
adding to the equation. You should vary your protein
as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.

When cooking your food, you should also limit solid fats
such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard. These
foods may add flavor to your dishes, although they can
also help raise your cholesterol as well. Therefore, you
should try to add these foods and any foods that happen
to contain them.

To help keep your saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium low,
you can check the nutrition facts label. This label can
be found on the food package and will tell you all the
information you need to know about the food item.

By picking your foods wisely and watching what you eat,
you’ll help control your lifestyle. Exercise is great as
well, as it goes along perfect with a healthy eating
lifestyle. No matter what your age may be, eating healthy
will help you keep your active lifestyle for years and
years – even help you and your health in the long run
as well.

Healthy Cooking Is A Must For Families

When it comes to cooking healthy meals for our families, there is always some degree of dissention among the ranks. The good news is that there are recipes that are very healthy but the healthy nature of these recipes is somewhat disguised. What they do not know in these instances truly should not bring harm their way (outside of allergies, which should never be ignored).

Healthy cooking is often difficult as most of us do not want to spend time planning and preparing meals that our families refuse to eat. At the same time, we want our families to be healthy so we feel compelled to learn new and improved ways of cooking healthy foods for our family to enjoy (and unfortunately in some cases scorn).

With weight and nutrition being known as the culprit in so many health conditions it is impossible to ignore the importance of not only eating healthy ourselves but also of teaching our children the importance of eating healthy. One way to insure that your loved ones are in fact eating healthy is to make sure that you are cooking healthy and nutritious foods for them. This does not mean that you cannot enjoy the occasional calorie splurge or even that you shouldn’t. The key to cooking healthy is learning to control portions and understanding the importance of moderation.

For those that are hoping to incorporate healthy cooking habits into their daily routines, there are no more resources available than ever before in order to assist you in those endeavors. You can seek the services of a professional nutritionist, your doctor can offer advice, you can find all kinds of books on healthy eating, cooking, and living at your local library, and the Internet is an outstanding source of all kinds of information when it comes to leading a healthier lifestyle all around.

There are many books and magazines that are filled with recipes that encourage healthy cooking and eating habits. If you truly love to cook, then there is no shortage of recipes that you can try out along the way. The really good news is that you can incorporate healthy cooking into your cooking routine whether you are cooking for one or a household of ten.

There are many that will argue that cooking healthy food costs more than cooking the prepackaged foods that pack on the calories and additives. The truth of the matter is that when you compare the costs with the medical bills of the future for failing to do so, they seem rather slight by comparison. Yes, good food costs more money. In many cases, that is a simple fact of life. However, by learning portion control and eating the proper portions you just may discover that you are actually spending less as you adjust to the proper amounts of food you should be consuming in order to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Cooking healthy isn’t an overnight change; it is a lifestyle change that should be implemented one step at a time. You do not have to go into your kitchen and through out every little thing that you deem ‘unhealthy’ only work to not buy more of these items once they’ve been used. Make wiser decisions when purchasing fats for food preparation and you will discover that you’ve made a vitally important step in the process of incorporating healthy cooking and eating habits in your home.

It’s those small steps you take towards your goal of cooking healthy foods for your family that will matter far more than any giant leap. Before you know it you will find that you all have more energy and a better sense of overall health than you would have imagined before changing your cooking habits. If that isn’t enough to encourage you however, you can always check out the excuse to go shopping for new clothes after you drop a size or two.

Healthy Raw Food Diet

Raw food has become very popular these days and for some very good reasons. I will attend several of them in this article. Raw food is a vegetarian food which is not baked, cooked or heated over 48 Celsius, about 120 Fahrenheit, degrees. Raw food can be categorized into four main groups: vegetables and fruits, sprouts of all kinds, dehydrated breads and fruits, and fermented food with friendly germs. In this article I will discuss how one should start to consume raw food for healthy raw food diet.

It is a known fact that since 1500 BC famous people consumed raw food among them you can find: Leonardo de Vinci, Russo, Hippocrates, Tolstoy, and many more. Today many famous people follow their footsteps and consume raw food as a healthier way of life and maintaining great appearance as a bonus.

Before we start consuming raw food we need to better understand the biggest advantage in eating living food. In one word: Enzymes. When the food is heated over 48 degrees all enzymes died and we loose their blessed work. Enzymes are created by our body to support it in some of the most crucial tasks our body performs. They help in adjusting the food and consume less food but enjoy better feeding. Unlike heavy cooked food which is less nutritious.

One of the most important side affects of consuming raw food is maintaining balanced body weight. This is not the subject of this article but over weight problems are well known: blood pressure, heart disease, etc. We can benefit from the following if we keep in normal weight: improved immunity system, better night sleep, higher energy, and better digestion system, avoid skin disease, less fat in your blood, and live longer.

Another important element is consuming the correct blend of foods without mixing wrong types of foods. It is important to avoid mixing of vegetables and fruits, sweet fruits and sour fruits, fat and fruits. The reason is that every food group is digested by a different enzyme. The mixing could relate to a swollen stomach and unpleasant heavy feeling and an urge to take a nap while you have just eaten and should feel a live and energetic.

I hope that by now you are convinced that consuming raw food could change your life for the better. But how should you start consuming raw food? Here are few quick tips on how should you start to change your diet:
• Instead of taking foods out, start with adding raw foods to your diet.
• Drink only natural squeezed juices. Especially green juice made from celery, cucumber, and green leafs. (Try cucumber, celery, green leafs, some ginger, and ¼ of lemon).
• Start your lunch and dinner with a big salad. Add nuts and seeds.
• Start eating nuts, almonds, and seeds as snacks. Or some fruit.
• Start to remove slowly processed food. At start 20 percent raw and 80 percent not and slowly change the relation.

Please note that in time when you start consuming only raw food your body will start to clean all toxics and it could be accompanied by bad breath, gazes, etc. This is normal and a sign that your body is getting one step closer to a healthy clean state.

Please consult your doctor before performing any change to your diet to make sure your diet fits your medical condition.

Healthy Foods That Your Kids Will Love

Is getting your kids to eat healthy foods is a battle in your home? If so, you’ll love these tips that will make your kids happy and give you the satisfaction of knowing you are feeding them foods that are good for them.

Start the Day Right

You can give your kids a delicious, healthy breakfast by getting rid of the ready to eat cereals and pastries and replacing them with bran pancakes and low-sugar syrup and/or fruit. Whole-wheat tortillas filled with fruit, scrambled eggs, or cheese and turkey bacon are delicious and your kids will have fun eating them, paying no attention to the fact that it is actually good for them.

Naturally Sweet

Most kids will ask for sweets such as candy and snack cakes. Instead of giving in to the pressure, give your kids applesauce and homemade oatmeal cookies prepared with a sugar substitute or honey rather than white sugar. Fruit snacks and dried fruit roll ups made from 100 percent fruit are great ideas for kids.
Replace fruit drinks and sodas with flavored tonic water and fresh fruit juice. Drink boxes containing pure fruit juice are relatively inexpensive and kids love the individual boxes, complete with straws.

Make it Fun

The secret is in the presentation. Arrange an assortment of healthy foods in a fun way on your child’s plate. You can include smiley faces made from raisins or nuts and choose foods that are colorful. Kids will eat most things if they are presented in a unique design that makes eating fun.

Healthy Dinner

Dinnertime can include homemade pizza topped with cheese and vegetables, or soft tacos made with shredded chicken and cheese. Chicken strips prepared in the oven are always a hit and you could include an assortment of fresh vegetables and whole-grain breads. Fish sticks are relatively healthy if you prepare them in the oven rather than fried. Cheese and legumes are healthy choices.

It’s not difficult to get kids to eat healthy foods. It just takes a little extra thought and planning. Start by using our tips and you may be surprised to see what your child will eat.

Healthy Foods – All About Good Things To Eat!

Did you know that our society is in the midst of a health craze? Any way you turn there is information about being healthier. Eating healthy foods is obviously one of the best ways to improve your health. However when people hear those two words they think of boring, bland foods that are widely available as a natural food co-op. Although healthy foods are things that you have eaten almost every day, at times just prepared in a different way.

Healthy foods as well as eating habits are pleasing both to the palate and plate. However one must remember that healthy foods is that the closer the food is to its natural state the healthier it is for you. Firstly you can start changing your eating habits to more healthy foods by cutting down on the number of prepared foods that you eat. Prepackaged foods are loaded with preservatives and artificial ingredients. Sure packaged foods are convenient, but healthy foods can be also, especially once you get into the habit of preparing them.

Healthy foods are very easy to prepare. In fact it doesn’t take much time or money to eat healthy foods. Here is a simple example of a fantastic meal that is easy to prepare, low-priced and features healthy foods. Grill lean hamburger patties until well-cooked. Next place the patties on whole grain all natural hamburger buns. You can serve the burgers with a large tossed salad as well as a side of steamed green beans. Follow this easy meal with a serving of fresh fruit for dessert. This meal can be on your table in less than half an hour and involves all healthy foods.

Grilling or baking lean meats, fish or chicken does not take to long to prepare. Tossing a salad of fresh greens and vegetables can easily be done while the meat is cooking. Alternatively you can round out the meals by using fresh or frozen vegetables. For added variety to your meals you can try using different healthy foods that you haven’t tasted before. Check the produce section of your local grocer which is stocked with a whole range of healthy foods including exotic fruits and vegetables. A good number produce sections offer recipes and tips to show how to prepare fruits and vegetables that you may not be familiar with. This is a great way to expose your children to a variety of healthy foods. Of course, you can experiment with many different fresh herbs that are also available in the produce sections that you can try to add different tastes to your meals.

You can prepare healthy foods on a regular basis to prepare fast nutritious meals. Healthy foods can also be used in more exotic recipes when you have the time. Healthy foods can also be prepared ahead of time and frozen for later use. You can be assured that when you prepare your own frozen foods, you know that they are not full of artificial additives and preservatives. Encourage children to get involve in the preparation of the healthy foods, thus creating a time when each can share about their day. Eating healthy foods do not have to cost you time or money, and they are certainly a better option for you.

Healthy Food On A Tight Budget

One of the easiest traps to fall into when money is tight is to eat unhealthy foods. Healthy foods seem to be so expensive, after all. However, there are ways to save money while eating healthier foods. Yes, you can skip the ramen noodle section of your grocery store and still feed your family well.

What’s the trick? Planning!

Whether you work at home or outside the home, your life can often be so hectic that it just seems simpler to order pizza or cook prepackaged convenience foods. However, these are typically much less healthy for you than foods you cook yourself.

Start by picking out the recipes you would like to make. Deciding on what you are serving ahead of time can keep you from deciding on something less healthy but easier to make just because you don’t feel like taking the time to cook the healthier food.

If time is a major issue, consider recipes where you can prepare it partially or fully in advance. There are people who do an entire week’s cooking in one day, storing the meals in the refrigerator or freezer. Even if you can’t entirely prepare the meal in advance, consider chopping the vegetables in advance.

Planning your meals in advance also helps with your grocery shopping. Use your plans to create your shopping list. You may even want to plan your meals at the same time as you plan your shopping list by taking a look at what is on special at whichever grocery stores you plan to shop at. Buying items that are on special can save you quite a bit of money. You may even want to stock up.

To save as much as possible, limit yourself to what is on that list. No impulse purchases! It takes self discipline, but cutting back on impulse items can be a huge help.

They may seem expensive, but fruits and vegetables that are in season are actually quite affordable, and can be an excellent alternative to sugary or salty snacks. Their frozen counterparts are also quite good for you and may be quite affordable.

If you have space in the freezer, buy meats when they are at their best discount. You will want to keep track of what a good price is for each kind of meat. You will also want to be aware of when products get marked down. I know that my local Albertson’s, for example, generally marks their ground beef from the butcher department to $1/pound somewhere around 9 o’clock every evening. Guess what time I shop there when I need ground beef?

Make the most of your leftovers. It’s all to easy to forget them and have to clean out the fridge several days later. Wasted food is money you’re throwing out. Pull those leftovers out for lunch!

Finally, pay attention to how you’re cooking your food. You may not need as much oil as you’ve been using, for example. Stir frying can be a great way to mix your meat and vegetables up with a delicious sauce. Drain the grease when you cook ground beef to make it a little healthier. Trim excess fat from other meats to make them just a little better for you. And don’t forget to eat your vegetables! Try mixing them up with some spices rather than butter… there are wonderful ways to bring out the flavors of vegetables.

Healthy Food Equals Good Skin

Who doesn’t want glowing, vibrant, and younger looking skin? Everyone aspires to have a healthy and blemish-free skin. Still, many of us find our skin to be quite impossible to manage especially when you wake up and find a huge zit on your nose or a cold sore at the corner of your mouth. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat common skin problems by checking in the food we take.

Did you know that dry skin during the summer might easily be remedied with a handful of nuts? We have all heard the old saying, we are what we eat. Often we ignore how our diets affect problems, such hair loss or oily skin. Most experts say eating a balanced diet is the best way to get your share of good food for healthy skin. Still, a number of specific food can be consumed to bring back the healthy glow to your skin.

Probably one of the most important components of skin health is Vitamin A. One can get it from low-fat dairy products. In fact, experts say that the health of our skin cells is dependent on dietary Vitamin A. Low-fat yogurt is also “good skin food” since it is high in Vitamin A and acidophilus, the “live” bacteria that is good for intestinal health.

Aside from milk and yoghurt, fruits and berries are also good for the skin. Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and plums have a lot of antioxidants and phytochemicals that protects the cell from damage that can be harmful to the skin. Other fruits and vegetables with a “high antioxidant capacity” include artichokes, beans (the study cited black, red, and pinto), prunes, and pecans. Salmon, walnuts, canola oil, and flax seed all deliver essential fatty acids, and thus are key foods for healthy skin.

The best-known essential fatty acids are Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are healthy ingredients that must be part of our daily diet. Though we all seem to get enough Omega-6, fish, walnut, and flax seed oil are among the best sources.

Eating good-quality oils helps keep skin lubricated and keeps it looking and feeling healthier overall. However, only those that are labeled cold pressed, expeller processed, or extra virgin are the ones to look for. Since any fat, even a healthy one, is high in calories, experts remind us that we don’t need more than about two tablespoons a day.

Whole-wheat bread, muffins, and cereals; turkey, tuna, and brazil nuts are mineral selenium which connects all these foods for healthy skin. Experts say selenium plays a key role in the health of skin cells. Some studies show that even skin damaged by the sun may suffer fewer consequences if selenium levels are high.

Some beverages like Green Tea also possess beneficial properties that are good for the skin. This drink deserves a category all its own in any article about food for healthy skin. The skin-health properties of Green Tea are amazing. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and it protects the cell membrane. It may even help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer.

While the exact amount you should drink each day varies, no one disputes the role good hydration plays in keeping skin looking healthy and even young. When that hydration comes from pure, clean water, (not liquids such as soda or even soup) experts say that skin cells actually “rejoice” since the fluid helps flush out toxins and impurities from the body. When we’re properly hydrated, we also sweat more efficiently. Doing so helps keep skin clean and clear as well.

Everything we eat becomes a part of not only our inner being, but the outer fabric of our body as well. No skin care solutions or treatments can replace having a healthy diet. The healthier the food we consume, the less stress we feel, and the better our skin will look.

Healthy Food Choices When Eating At A Restaurant

With our increasingly busy lifestyle many families are choosing to eat out more often. While it may be rather expensive, for some it is the only logical choice. However, if you’re trying to watch your weight, it can be difficult making the right food selections while eating out at restaurants!

This is a simple guide to some kinds of popular foods that people often choose when they eat out.

Chinese (and Asian food generally) offers a wide variety of broth-based soups, stir-fried treats, steamed fish and vegetable dishes, rice, chow mien, and other menu items that delicious low-calorie and low fat choices.

There are of course many foods that you should avoid as well. Fried egg rolls, fried wontons, dishes made with duck, egg foo yung, and fried chicken should not be ordered if you’re trying to eat healthy. It isn’t that they are bad dishes; they simply tend to have more fat and salt in them than the others. Fried rice should be replaced by steamed rice. The all-you-can-eat buffet should be avoided at all costs (regardless of what type of food).

If you are lucky enough to have a good quality restaurant with Indian Cuisine, you have a number of delicious healthy, low-fat options to choose from. Chicken, fish, veggies, steamed rice; legumes are included in healthy dishes throughout the menu. Bean soups are delicious and healthy. You can opt for Chapati, Chicken or Shrimp Vindaloo, or Lamb kabobs. The main dishes to exclude when dining out in the Indian Restaurants are the fried breads, dishes served with large amounts of nuts and dishes made with coconut milk. Overall, Indian cuisine is a wonderful dining option when you are watching what you eat.

Some of the most fattening dishes you could possibly dream of are found in Italian Restaurants. Fried Mozzarella sticks, Lasagna, thick creamy Alfredo pasta dishes and many others cloud your judgment when skimming over the menu. However, you will also find many healthy dishes to make your mouth water as well. Thin crust pizza with vegetable toppings, pasta with tomato-based sauces, chicken cacciatore, chicken Marsala, and biscotti are a few items that will keep you at the Italian table without having to give up your commitment to cut calories and watch fat intake. Salads and soup choices are also something to consider. Avoid most deserts in the Italian Restaurants, most are just like the cheese dishes you find here, very rich.

You may have many opportunities to eat out with your wife and friends. It’s important to remember that while you are watching you’re weight, you don’t have to exclude yourself from all of the great food available in quality restaurants. You simply need to pay attention to what you are eating and remember that moderation goes along way.

Healthy Breakfast Foods

It is always surrounded by silly excuse of lack of time. And still no one denies that fact that “breakfast” is the most important meal of the day.

Why such a hullabaloo about this early morning meal? Well, for starters, this meal comes after a break of 8 – 10 hours; hence your blood sugar level will be low. Since your body has gone with out food for such a long time, it needs nourishment to kick-start its day. Therefore “breakfast” is considered to be an important and essential meal of the day.

Breakfast benefits both, young and old. It is the key to jump start your muscles and your day. People who eat breakfast (healthy) daily are more likely to

- Consume more vitamins, minerals and less of fat and cholesterol.
- Increased strength and endurance.
- Better concentration and productivity all day long.
- Control over weight
- Low cholesterol = no risk or little risk of heart disease

Children who eat breakfast are likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and eye-hand coordination. They will be alert, creative, and less likely to miss days of school.

If you think skipping this meal, will help you lose weight, think again. By passing over this meal, your body will go in the starvation mode and make you crave for snacks especially sweets. Impulsive snacking on unhealthy foods can lead to weight gain. So you motive of losing weight by skipping breakfast stays unachieved.

Try to choose healthy foods from at least two food groups each morning

- Fruits & Vegetables
- Grains
- Dairy
- Proteins

A glass of pure fruit juice, bananas, yoghurt, low-calorie muesli with semi skimmed or skimmed milk, fresh fruit salad with few spoonfuls of low fat yoghurt, fresh and raw veggies mixed with flavoured yoghurt, a slice of toast or plain bread with eggs, boiled or poached are some of the options for breakfast. Kids can enjoy a Smoothie with their favourite fruits; add dash of yoghurt or honey to make it more delicious.

If you look forward to eating different kinds of healthy foods for breakfast, you are less like to skip this meal. If time is your hurdle, think about packing your breakfast or eating on the ‘run’, its better than skipping it altogether.

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