Why men need more soluble fiber
Men and women share many aspects of healthy lifestyle advice, so why do studies consistently reveal that men have increased risk of developing chronic disease? In large part, this is because men have a tendency to ignore early signs that something is going wrong and dedicate fewer resources and time to prevention.
However, a “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” approach does not apply to chronic disease. While the leading causes of death for men include heart disease and cancer, a host of chronic diseases can lead to decades of poor health and even poorer quality of life.
Over the last decade, countless studies have developed linking health outcomes to the gut. Turns out that a healthy community of gut microbes and optimal digestion affects much more than your digestive tract. In fact, studies show that maintaining a healthy microbiome is a critical factor in the prevention of:
Maximizing microbiome health involves everything from good sleep to regular exercise, but the microbiome is most directly affected by what we put in our mouths. A diet low in sugar and alcohol and high in fermented foods and soluble fiber nourish and maintain a balanced and health-promoting microbiome.
We fancy fiber over here at Florasophy, and men, you should too!
Consistently consuming fiber at the current recommendation of 38g/day or more reduces risk of chronic disease. Both soluble and insoluble fiber are critical to disease prevention, however soluble fiber has extra benefits that directly impact men’s health such as:
- Soluble fiber traps cholesterol and triglycerides in the gut and moves them out into your toilet, reducing overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- Soluble fiber reduces average blood sugar and blood pressure when taken regularly.
- Soluble fiber feeds the healthy microbes in your gut leading to an increased production of metabolites (SCFA) that promote brain and colon health.
- Soluble fiber reduces inflammation
- Soluble fiber boosts metabolism
That said, your diet should provide a variety of soluble and insoluble fibers. We recommend supplementing with Florasophy because it’s harder to obtain the recommended 15-20g/day soluble fiber compared to the ease of consuming insoluble fiber. For more information about how to eat more fiber, check out our recent post. Also, check out all the incredible health benefits of soluble fiber on these recent posts in our favorite Fiber as Medicine blog category.
Adding Florasophy to your routine is about the most simple shift you can make to enjoy better health!
About Megan Barnett, MS, CNS
Megan Barnett is a functional medicine practitioner in Portland, Oregon. In her clinical practice, she helps patients identify the root cause of their health problems, then designs individualized and evidence-based approaches to alleviate symptoms and help their bodies heal. She has a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Kansas State University and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Functional Medicine from University of Western States.