One of the biggest problems with the Standard American Diet (SAD) is the lack of fiber. When you eat animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish), you are getting NOOOOO fiber. And it is the fiber that is most important for a healthy body, not the PROTEIN! A high fiber diet (plant based) lowers your risk of developing many cancers by keeping your gut in check!
There are 2 types of fiber, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Both are undigested, and therefore NOT absorbed into the bloodstream. And of course, consumption of fiber provides 0 calories. It is not used for energy (thats the carbs job), but is excreted from our bodies. And that is good, because it attaches to all the bad things (toxins, cholesterol) and carries them out of our bodies!
Soluble fiber forms a gel when mixed with liquid, and it slows the speed of food going from the stomach to the small intestines. This slowdown allows for sugars to be released and absorbed more slowly, a good regulator for those with diabetes. It binds with harmful chemicals and heavy metals so that those toxins are not absorbed into the body. It also binds with cholesterol in the small intestines, and removes it from the body as well. Large consumption of soluble fiber (plant based) will lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol reducing the risk of heart disease. Examples of soluble fiber are the INSIDES of most fruits, whole grains and veggies.
Insoluble fiber passes through our intestines largely intact. It shortens the transit time through the large intestine, so it has less time to sit and purify. It will control and balance the pH (acidity) in the intestines by preventing microbes from producing cancerous substances. Insoluble fiber retains a lot of water, which gives BULK to food, and thus provides satiation. The insoluble fiber will help with bowel-related health problems like constipation, hemorrhoids and IBS. Foods high in insoluble fiber are beans, seeds and the outer skin/layers of most fruits, whole grains and veggies.
Sooooo, don't worry about WHAT kind of fiber you get! If you eat a WFPB (whole food plant based) way of eating, you WILL get all the fiber you need. And most of us realize that within the first few days of going 100% plant based! Your body will cleanse itself, and remove all those toxins! Be ready for the plant cleanse!