Fiber is vital to good health, a positively functioning colon and the elimination of old foods, void of their nutrients after their journey through the body. Yes, the topic might be unpopular, but a necessary part of discussions on health.

The colon has a huge job when it comes to digestion and elimination of a SAD diet (standard American diet) With the overflow of meats and starches, fats and nearly no healthy living nutrients, the colon has its work cut out for it. No wonder colon dysfunctions are one of the leading causes of ill health on this continent. More and more people are suffering from obesity and much of it has to do with how we treat our colon.

For a clean and healthy colon, it is recommended that an average of 20 - 30 grams of fiber be consumed daily. That, along with a good but not overdone amount of water, will sustain the body in good health. Too much water can serve to wash the nutrients and electrolytes from the system. Moderate consumption, along with an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies, will give your body all the water you need.

Take on fiber in relaxed ways, if you're used to eating mostly junk food, high fat foods, fried foods and mostly meat and starch combinations. In our society, meat and starch are the most often combined, yet create the most digestive problems. Each requires specific digestive juices for breakdown and absorption. The two that result have a tendency to neutralize each other, so no real digestion is occurring. No wonder we feel so tired following a big badly combined meal.

Begin simply. Add one apple to your day. Each contains high fiber (one med. raw is about 4 grams of fiber) Best if you could munch on it for breakfast. Fruit for breakfast is a wonderful addition to good health. Fresh fruits by themselves for the first meal of the day, aid in the colon's job of having to eliminate yesterday's food. Fruit takes little energy to digest, so the body has a chance to do what it needs to do.

Add a cup of bran flakes for a mid-morning snack. They provide a terrific 5 gr. per cup of fiber. They taste great and you can bake them into muffins for a delicious snack.

Beans and peas are astounding sources of fiber. High on all counts and because there are so many, the variety of dishes and preparation is limitless.

Broccoli daily is a huge source of fiber. 3/4 of a cup of fresh cooked broccoli offers you a whopping 7 gr. of fiber toward your daily total.

Add a dose a day of a leading fiber product like Metimucil (tm) as well. These are gently softeners and contribute to overall elimination.

These are just a few of the things you can add to your diet to increase your fiber. Not only do they aid colon health, but they can also aid in making you feel fuller so that the urge to eat more than you need diminishes.

When looking at your health, it's great to exercise more, to eat better and to keep a positive attitude, but don't forget your colon. You'll be grateful at the abundance of energy you have when you feed your body the fiber it needs daily.