You are probably aware that fiber intake is important for proper digestion, but did you know that it also offers other health benefits, such as a lowered risk of diabetes and heart disease? Did you know that fiber can actually help to boost your immune system as well? It’s this time of year that we all start to worry about staving off colds and the flu for the winter. You’re probably aware of the benefits of taking vitamin C, but combining it with fiber could be your secret to a strong, healthy immune system this winter.
There are two basic types of fiber; soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel in your digestive tract that helps lower glucose levels and your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber is found in peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley and psyllium. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and essentially travels through your digestive tract intact. Insoluble fiber is good for relieving constipation, adding bulk to the digestive system, and generally helping things to move along. Whole grains and some vegetables are good sources of insoluble fiber.
Increased amounts of fiber in the diet have been associated with improved blood pressure, reduced inflammation and heart health protection. Soluble fiber has an effect on the immune system that helps to boost immunity and help our bodies to recover faster from infection. Basically, our immune cells are “attack” cells that migrate around attacking whatever they can find that isn’t supposed to be there. This is why immune cells are often referred to as “pro-inflammatory cells”.
In a study done by Gregory Freund at the University of Illinois, soluble fiber was found to increase the production of interleukin-4, an anti-inflammatory protein. He found that this protein production actually “changes the personality of immune cells” from “pro-inflammatory, angry cells to anti-inflammatory, healing cells that help us to recover faster from infection.”
Discovering that soluble fiber has such a profound effect on the immune system brings to light some interesting questions. Freund believes that these findings show us that obesity and inflammatory related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, could be avoided with increased soluble fiber intake. When the body becomes obese, it compensates in an effort to protect itself. Fat cells produce hormones to try and combat the inflammation that is caused by the fat cells themselves. Soluble fiber helps to protect obese animals and people from “further inflammatory insults, such as heart attack or stroke”.
Combining anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals with an increased fiber intake has been shown to significantly improve the strength of the immune system, even calming an over-reactive immune system associated with autoimmune disorders. The good news is that in all of these studies it was found that it didn’t take an exurbanite amount of fiber to reap the benefits. Normal supplemental amounts were found to be very effective. Products such as Wholesale Nutrition’s “Eurofiber” contain vitamin C and a synergistic combination of the best soluble fibers that there are. Add soluble fiber and vitamin C to your diet and see how your health can change.
About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people achieve greater brain and body health with vitamins and supplements, with an emphasis on vitamin C powder. Wholesale Nutrition has provided the world with the best vitamin C and wholesale vitamins since 1970. Visit http://www.nutri.com to buy high-quality discount vitamins today!
Sources:
http://www.nutri.com/index.cfm/product/38_22/eurofiber.cfm?CFID=56282236&CFTOKEN=57335583
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fiber/NU00033
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100302171531.htm
