Surgery or Apple?

Not too long ago my husband's friend had to have surgery to remove lesions from his colon. They were causing numerous health issues and medicine or diet was not an option. Several portions of his colon had to be removed and reconstructed. What was the cause of his problems? He was not eating enough fiber. He is an office worker that did not eat right or get enough exercise. If he had, he would have never needed the operation. So the question that I am asking you.... Surgery or Apple?

I have to admit that this worried us. I know that I do not eat enough fiber. I started estimating the amount of fiber that I was consuming. I was quite surprised. My total fiber intake yesterday was 20.9 grams. This is how I estimated: 

Brunch: 2 pieces of French toast - 1.9 grams fiber

Supper: 3 slices of pizza - 3 grams fiber

Snack: Microwave Popcorn - 16 grams (thank you popcorn)

Are we eating enough fiber? According to The American Dietetic Association the recommended fiber intake should be 20 to 35 grams a day. WOW! To put this into perspective for you. I found a chart http://www.wehealnewyork.org/ that tells you how much fiber you are ingesting. For example: 1 medium raw apple contains 4.0 grams fiber. Just for me to get the minimal recommended amount of fiber I would have to eat 5 medium apples. Of course, apples are not the only source of fiber. I can and do eat other foods that contain fiber. 

So why is fiber so helpful for your body? 

• Relieves the dreaded constipation - fiber makes everything move better!
• Helps maintain good weight - fiber does not make you lose weight but it can be useful in reducing calorie intake because food high in fiber slows the onset of hunger (Makes you feel fuller longer).
• Prevents some diseases - known to reduce the risks of heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. 

I believe that I will start eating more fiber!!!!! If I had not eaten half a bag of popcorn I would be in trouble! I do eat quite a bit of popcorn but I do not think I should be relying on that for my fiber consumption.