I thought I understood what fiber was - thick stuff that didn't taste good but was good for you.  Bulking agents.  Stuff that helped you poop.  Well, that's part of it, but not all of it.  I'm reading a great little book - and by little I mean size wise.  It's a pocket edition of the popular "For Dummies" series.  This one is "Superfoods for Dummies" and I'll be sharing other tidbits as I come across them.  Today I want to pull directly from that book(let) and quote them on fiber:

"A fiber primer- If you arent' sure what fiber is and why it's good for you, you're not alone.  Fiber is the part of plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains) that can't be broken down by your digestive system.  Fiber is important for your health - it keeps your digestive system healthy and helps to control blood sugar levels.

There are two types of fiber:

Insoluable fiber:  This type of fiber doesn't dissolve in water and cannot be digested.  It absorbs water and bulks teh stool to help regulate bowel movements.  In soluble fiber is found in grains and some vegetables.

Soluable fiber:  This type of fiber dissolves in water, forming a gel-like substance that moves through the intestines.  Found in fruits, vegetables, and legumes, soluable fiber is associated with lowering choloesterol and controlling blood sugar.

A food is considered to have a high fiber content when it has more than 5 grams of fiber per serving."

So - there you have it.  A clear, concise definition of what fiber is and why it's important.  Now get out there and start adding some to your diet - and be sure that your kids are getting enough as well.  There's very little fiber in the junk that they may like.  I'm finding that the more I involve my girls in the cooking process, the more they're eating.  And the more I educate them on what fiber, vitamins, minerals, etc. do FOR them (what have you done for me lately?), the more they're watching what's going in their mouths.  It's a beautiful thing to watch.  BTW, this is the kind of thing that we teach in Healthy Girl's classes.  Get your girls in one - or start teaching one yourself.  Check out our teacher training site where you can become an authorized teacher of Healthy Girl's classes at:  www.DBA.HealthyGirls.net. 

Happy, healthy day!!

Kathy