Digestive System

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on Fiber: Its Importance In Your Diet. The University of Maryland publishes a page on its Web site that contains a listing of fiber content in popular foods, good sources of fiber, and not-so-good sources. The page may be found at University Of Maryland Handouts.

Fiber is a virtually indigestible substance that is found mainly in the outer layers of plants. Fiber is a special type of carbohydrate that passes through the human digestive system virtually unchanged, without being broken down into nutrients. Carbohydrates constitute the main source of energy for all body functions. Almost everyone hears about the need

The following foods are good sources of fiber: Whole grains (bran has the highest fiber content); this includes breads and cereals, whole-grain pastas, and brown rice Nuts and seeds Legumes (such as dried peas, beans, lentils) Fruits Vegetables A dietary supplement of fiber products such as Citrucel orMetamucil, which are mixed with water and provide about 4

A good diet should contain approximately 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. The average American eats less than half of that. Getting more fiber in your diet doesn’t have to mean a drastic change. In fact, it’s best to start slowly, in order to avoid constipation from getting too much fiber all at

Fiber has numerous effects in the large intestine: Fiber is attacked and broken down by the huge population of bacteria that live in the colon. The breakdown products are acids and gases. This process is called fermentation. Dietary fiber is only partly fermented, because some plant cell walls resist bacterial attack. The simple organic acids

Fiber is helpful to the body in many ways: Relieving constipation and hemorrhoids Preventing certain diseases Keeping weight under control Avoiding And Relieving Constipation Fiber can absorb large amounts of water in the bowels, and this makes stools softer and easier to pass. Anyone starting a higher-fiber diet will notice the difference in stool bulk.

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on Diverticular Disease. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a part of the National Institutes of Health.  http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/digest.htm The web site posts information on digestive diseases, provides a directory of digestive diseases organizations for patients, and will send free publications and

Diverticular disease is a condition in which small pouches, called diverticula, develop in the wall of the colon, or large intestine. The pouches develop at weak spots in the wall of the colon. These weak spots occur because of excess pressure in the colon, or existing weakness in the colon wall, that eventually bulge out

Diverticular disease essentially results from eating a diet with too little fiber. Fiber itself is not digested. It passes through the intestines pretty much unchanged, softening the stools and their passage. Lack of fiber begins a sequence of events: Without fiber, the stools are dry and small, and the intestinal muscles must contract with greater force

Since a wide range of conditions produces symptoms that are similar to those of diverticular disease, diagnosis can be complicated. In addition to taking a medical history and performing a physical exam, tests may be required for a definitive diagnosis. Medical History And Physical Exam A doctor may suspect that a person has diverticular disease