Fiber And Water

In nutrition, fiber's teammate is water. Water is another nutrient that rarely, if ever is taken in excess. Because fiber is the plant material that binds water. it can bind you up if you don't get enough water. In the presence of water, fiber makes your stools soft and consistent; in the absence of water, it can make them dry and hard.

The relationship between water and fiber is made clearer by this analogy. Milk contains less water than green peas. The reason you don't eat milk with a fork and drink your peas is because peas have fiber, which gives them their shape and holds the water. You want fiber to do exactly that in your digestive system - give stools consistency without excess firmness.

Fiber cannot perform its cleansing action without water, but our requirement for water extends far beyond that. Indeed, next to air itself, it is the most important of all nutrients. In arthritis, it is especially important for the elimination of waste materials that, in the opinion of some experts, can cause flare-ups. Strive for eight glasses of water daily. Although it is best consumed as pure water, it is okay in other beverages as well.