| While at the grocery store, have you | | | | editor of Productscan Online. "Four |
| noticed that you have more choices than | | | | years of consective growth is pretty |
| ever from food manufacturers? Low-fat, | | | | good evidence of a trend." The revisions |
| high-protein, low-sodium, and especially | | | | in the new food pyramid will help |
| high-fiber foods have become the growing | | | | promote the trend for high fiber foods |
| trend impacting our shopping carts, | | | | and high-fiber diets as well. |
| taste buds and our health. High fiber is | | | | The daily recommendation of dietary |
| no longer the 'neglected nutrient'. Its | | | | fiber by nutritional experts is 20-35 |
| role in healthy lifestyles has become | | | | grams. Studies support over and over |
| the buzzword for today's | | | | again the health benefits of consuming |
| health-conscious consumer. The | | | | high fiber foods. A high fiber diet |
| whole-grain trend has apparently | | | | helps to protect and prevent |
| surpassed the low carb movement. | | | | cardiovascular disease, reduces the risk |
| Fiberlady says it's about time. | | | | of some cancers,aids in weight |
| Continued research encourages the food | | | | loss,lowers cholesterol levels, and |
| industry to develop whole-grain products | | | | helps regulate diabetes and high blood |
| that are more appealing and acceptable | | | | pressure. |
| to you and me. By exploring new | | | | Fiberlady recognizes that we have come |
| technology for grain-processing, the | | | | along way in the evolution of our |
| texture and taste of whole-grain | | | | species, but we didn't get this far by |
| products is being altered. There is | | | | eating highly-refined, processed foods. |
| currently marketed a fiber-enriched | | | | Fast food for our ancestors meant |
| flour that tastes and has a similar | | | | grabbing an apple off the nearest tree. |
| texture of white bread. The mounting | | | | There was an undeniable instinct for |
| presence of dietary fiber in our food | | | | nutrient-rich fibrous plants. |
| sources should easily satisfy a wide | | | | Today, we descendants of the apes eat |
| range of dietary needs, tastes and | | | | barely enough high-fiber foods to keep a |
| choices. | | | | monkey in bananas. There is a |
| Fiberlady has curiously noticed foods | | | | challenging road ahead to redefine |
| such as cereals, breads and pastas, the | | | | overly-refined foods. The food industry |
| once dreaded low-carbs, have now become | | | | needs to consciously bridge the gap in |
| the darlings of health-conscious, | | | | nutritional awareness among consumers. |
| high-fiber food fans. There are good | | | | Informative websites are abundant and |
| carbs that not only help you with weight | | | | can address all of your high fiber |
| loss and control, but also protect your | | | | questions and/or doubts. |
| health. | | | | Fiberlady wants you to raise your high |
| "The percentage of products being | | | | fiber IQ and do the same for the people |
| marketed as fiber-enriched has increased | | | | you care about, choose high fiber foods. |
| from 2.3 percent in 2000, 2.5 percent in | | | | Even if you have to read every |
| 2001, 2.8 percent in 2002, 3 percent in | | | | nutritional fact on every food label on |
| 2003, to 4.2 percent this year," | | | | the grocer's shelf, choose high fiber |
| comments Tom Vierhile, the executive | | | | foods. Think about the alternative. |