Ok, I guess I am on a roll about Pro Vitamin Complete.  Remember those prescribed vitamins I was telling you about the other day? Well, I pulled them out to compare and they had no fiber.  I checked some popular grocery store vitamins and they also had no fiber.
 

So why do we have fiber in our Pro Vitamin Complete? 
 

Because you need all the fiber you can get. The USDA recommends 38 grams of fiber per day for men and 25 grams of fiber per day for women. When you get over 50 the numbers drop a bit.
 

I hope you took the time to visit the USDA My Pyramid site I recommended on analyzing your diet. I really work at eating a high fiber diet but there are days I fall short of the recommendation. So getting 4 extra grams in my vitamin is a big plus for me. (most 100% whole wheat bread gives you 2 grams of fiber per slice!)
 

Why is fiber so important?  That is equivalent to Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”  (Take your phone off the hook, this may take a while.)
 

Soluble Fiber actually forms a kind of gel when it meets with liquid.  It stays in the stomach longer and so the sugars are released into the blood slower. This is critical for folks with diabetes. My friend in South Carolina has been able to cut her medications in half since going high fiber.  If you are diabetic, don’t cut your meds on your own. Monitor your blood sugars and consult with your doctor.
 

Insoluble Fiber is just that. It doesn’t digest or dissolve.  So, why is it important if it is indigestible? Because it keeps everything moving! 
 

A high fiber diet is recommended in the treatment and prevention of: (hang on, the list is long)
 

Diabetes
 

Colon Cancer
 

Breast Cancer
 

Heart Disease
 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
 

Crone’s Disease
 

Constipation
 

Hemorrhoids
 

Diverticulosis
 

High Cholesterol
 

Obesity
 

Ok, ok! I’ll stop.  But the list goes on.  Fiber is critical to your health. Every day, eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, and 6 servings of whole grains.  And be sure to grab an extra 4 grams of fiber in your Pro Vitamin Complete!
 

Eating healthy,
 

Tim