Finally, spring has arrived in Austin. Plants are starting to look green again.

I neglected my front yard during this winter, and as a result, it was completely taken over by dandelions. It was a long and painful process to get rid of all of them, not to mention all the blisters on my hands.

My front yard looks somewhat decent now, but because dandelions continue to come back, I've decided to work on my yard 5 minutes every day. While I was working on it this morning, I thought this maintenance process is very similar to what we should do with our digestive systems.

Small Daily Maintenance Really Pays Off

Digestive issues respond well to dietary therapy and herbs especially when the symptoms are acute and minor, but if you leave them untreated, you are more likely to need invasive treatments and super bitter tasting herbs! For example, constipation can be treated and maintained well with dietary changes and hydration, but if you don't have it under control, your chance of developing colon cancer and diverticulitis increases.

Fiber And Hydration Are Our Best Friends

Dietary fibers are actually large carbohydrate molecules, and they come in 2 different forms: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibers are those that can be dissolved in water, and they help you feel full longer by slowing the speed of digestion. Insoluble fibers, on the other hand, cannot be dissolved in water, but they absorb water and work as a natural sweeper in your digestive system and keep us regular. Because of these characteristics, they are excellent weight management tools; however, estimated average daily fiber intake in US is around 14 to 15 grams while 30 to 35 grams is recommended.

How You Should Increase Fiber Intake

Fibers are broken down through fermentation process by our friendly bacteria in large intestine, and if you increase your fiber intake too quickly, you may suffer from over-production of gas. So you should increase your fiber intake gradually.

Fiber supplements are available, but why not increase your fiber intake by enjoying real food (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans)? Personally, I switched from white rice to brown rice with yam (or black beans). They taste great, keep me full longer, and improve my health. Ask me for a recipe during your next visit!