Don’t be embarrassed - let’s talk about fiber!
- riseupfitness
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
We are about to start our next nutrition challenge at the RiseUp studios, 30 days full of focus on nourishing food and healthy habits. With every one of these challenges, we get excellent nutrition questions from our participants – and this one was no exception!
While protein in every format has been hogging the spotlight for a while now, another player has been getting much more attention recently: fiber!
Let’s start with the basics.
What is fiber? Fiber is a type of indigestible carbohydrate. But don’t worry – indigestible, in this case, is a positive attribute!
What does it do for our bodies? Fiber is broken down into two general categories, and they each have an important role to play.
Soluble fiber (it can dissolve in water) serves to assist in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol.
Insoluble fiber (you guessed it, it does not dissolve in water) works to help food move through the digestive system and prevent constipation. To put it politely – it helps you stay regular.
The combined health benefits of soluble and insoluble fiber are myriad, and the inclusion of fiber in a healthy and varied diet is just as important as including the big 3 macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fats).
A whopping 95% percent of Americans are estimated to fall short of the daily recommended intake of fiber. Yikes! So where do we get it?
From plants! You can find soluble fiber in apples, avocados, oats, black beans, lima beans, peas, and Brussel sprouts, to name a few.
Insoluble fiber is in bran, whole wheat flour, the skins of many fruits and vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
So load up your grocery cart with some plant bounty to keep your fiber intake up and your body feeling good!
Ready to start prioritizing your overall health? It all starts here, with your first free workout.
Want to know more about Simple30 and join our next challenge? Find more information here.
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