Questionhi! i was wondering if it would be harmful to eat about a box of fiber one a day...i read that for 1/2 a cup, it has 25 grams of carbohydrates..so i figured that this is good, but i was wondering if it is possible to get too much fiber...also, ive heard that this fiber goes through your system without adding any calories..is this true?
AnswerAlexis,
Fiber is essentially any indigestible plant product. It acts like a sweeper in your digestive tract, helping any toxins move and giving your intestinal muscles some traction. It also soaks up bile. (Bile is made from cholesterol, goes to the intestine to help digest fat, and then is re-absorbed at the end for recycling... that's why oatmeal, etc, lowers cholesterol-it causes you to lose bile, forcing your body to burn through your cholesterol supplies faster to make more bile).
The recommended daily amount of fiber is 25 grams, and on a diet that includes a good amount of fruits and vegetables, it's not hard to hit 25 grams. However, I always advise people to eat at least 35 grams, because I believe that the full health benefits are not realized at only 25 grams.
What about upper limits? I would avise you not to suddenly start eating the whole box-instead, eat an additional 1/4 cup each day until you have digestive symptoms (mainly gas) then go down 1/4 cup, and stay there. Personally, when I'm trying to a few pounds (essentially every January!) I increase my fiber to 50-60 grams daily.
By the way, before you start this project, have your cholesterol checked. It'll be interesting to see how much it drops!
Melissa
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