Soluble and Insoluble Fiber

Physicians tell you to include fiber in your diet. Apparently there are good reasons for eating fiber. Lowering cholesterol and controlling blood sugar, for instance. Apparently there are two types of fiber. Soluble and insoluble fiber. Eating soluble fiber can sometimes result in massive gaseous expulsions, so be careful about ingesting too much of that before an important meeting. Insoluble fiber readily absorbs water in the intestines and makes it easier to... well, you know. As a lady in the checkout aisle at the grocery store told me a few years ago about a particular cereal I was purchasing at the time, "It helps with the pooping." A totally unsolicited comment, to be sure, but words of wisdom from a nice, elderly person who apparently does not get out of the house much and really, really, really needed to speak to another human being.

I am trying to eat fruits and veggies more often than in the past. The cholesterol is a bit too high. Too many Sonic burgers and Taco Mayo tacos over the years. Just need to eat better anyway. I like grapefruit and eat some several times per week. There are a couple of trail mixes that I like that contain dried fruits, nuts and whole grains. There are a couple of Post cereals that I like to eat, not one of which is the cereal that caused the old woman to comment about "the pooping." But both cereals are pretty good and contain alot of whole grains. I have no idea how much soluble and insoluble fiber there is in the fruit, cereals and trail mixes I've been eating. One thing for certain, apparently I have eaten alot of insoluble fiber recently. Not sure how long it takes to get through the digestive tract. A few days? A few hours? A few minutes? Does it gather in the intestine until a specific quantity is achieved before the body decides to get rid of it? I don't know. Whatever the time frame, I believe there is a quantity of insoluble fiber that results in a potentially disastrous, no-warning side effect.

Take it from a guy that has observed his spouse and children rushing to the crapper on many occasions and carries hocky-tickets in the car because there are occasional emergency stops along side the highway. They all must eat way more insoluble fiber than I do. Anyway, do not get caught far from a restroom when the body decides there is too much insoluble fiber in the intestine and says, "Hey! Enough of this crap! Get outta here!" Literally.

I decided I can deal with the soluble fiber side effects. Gaseous buildup? No problem. Crop dusting. Elevator rides.

Just sayin'.

hee hee.