Roughing It!

Colon friendly foods

“That is wonderful news!” exclaimed Annie as she read the results of LJ’s colonoscopy. “What gets the credit for your clean colon? Could it be your diet of fruits and vegetables that are fiber-rich and nutrient-dense?” she said in a beaming tone.

LJ smiled, “We’ve both been paying attention to what I eat, so you get props too. I give a lot of credit to dietary fiber, though. When we started eating more high fiber food, I knew it would produce these clean-as-a-whistle results. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that is not absorbed or digested; rather, its role is to support gut function by moving food through our digestive system. There are two main kinds of fiber: soluble and insoluble. So, when you eat an apple, for example, you’re ingesting its own type of soluble fiber, pectin that dissolves in water and turns into a gel during digestion. This slow process makes you feel fuller longer. Soluble fiber also attaches to cholesterol and takes it out of your system, helping to lower blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Lima beans are another source of soluble fiber. One cup has 7 grams. Brussels sprouts have nearly 4 grams. Kohlrabi 4 grams, Collard Greens, has over 3 grams. Pears, blueberries, and oats are other great soluble fiber foods.

On the other hand, Insoluble fiber bulks up stools and helps pass it through your intestines quickly. It…