According to the American Heart Association, our bodies need lots of fiber in order to be healthy and function properly. Fiber is that part of plants comprised of materials that cannot be broken down by enzymes and digested.

Fiber helps to slow our digestive system down, allowing the body to break down the sugars in food (which is needed to produce energy among other things), at a rate that avoids wild swings in sugar and insulin levels in the blood. This can prevent the inconvenient hunger pangs that can lead to overeating.

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Fiber also binds with the material in our intestines, softening it to aid in waste elimination and promoting a healthier colon.

The recommended daily fiber intake can vary with age and gender, but approximately 14 grams per 1,000 calories of consumption is the average recommended amount for a healthier body.