by Kristine Clark, Ph.D., R.D.Matol’s Health & Nutrition BoardMother Nature holds many secrets close to her heart, but for over 21 years Matol Botanical International Ltd. has tapped into it by developing and showcasing the best tasting dietary supplement I have ever tried. FibreSonic’ contains 13 grams of natural soluble and insoluble fibre, the secret carbohydrate that helps keep the large intestine in tip top shape along with assisting in the management of blood cho­lesterol levels. That’s right, fibre is a car­bohydrate! But a type that is miraculously calorie free!Fibre is the substance in plants that gives the plant shape, structure and sturdiness. All plants contain some amount of fibre which is a key reason national and inter­national health agencies, such as the American Dietetic Association and the Canadian Dietetic Association, promote eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.Fibre is the “stuff” best known for cleans­ing the colon with its roto-rooter action. As I tell my students, “fibre acts like chipped, dried sponge in the large intes­tine.” The fluid in our diet (both from bev­erages and foods) is absorbed by the fibre, causing the fibre particles to expand. The expanded fibre is able to “reach out and touch” microscopic villi, or tiny hair-like projectiles attached to the lining of the large intestine, causing them to move back and forth. You could say that the fibre “tickles” the villi. The back and forth or squeezing motion of the villi stimulates the entire colon to pass waste material down the eight foot tube for excretion. This entire process is called peristalsis and the action is critical to good health.From the time I became a member of the Matol Health and Nutrition Advisory Board in 1992 until now, I have been passionate about FibreSonic’.Many Matol Distributors can attest for this zealousness because they’ve heard me speak on the subject at annual conferences and regional meetings. As I read the statis­tics on colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women, taking 56,290 lives in 2005 (out of 145,290 new cases that year), I shake my head knowing this form of can­cer is preventable. What we eat – in other words how much fibre we consume daily – is in our control. We can also prevent this disease by having appropriate colon screenings (colonoscopies) once we reach 50 years of age. Reducing disease risk and promoting optimal health opportunities for all people is what Matol Botanical is all about.How much fibre do we need?Fibre comes in two varieties: water insoluble and water soluble. The water insoluble variety is found mainly in wheat bran-based cereals and breads while the water soluble variety is found in fruits, vegetables, beans, oat­meal and oat bran. The water insoluble type plays its largest role in colon health while the water soluble type plays its largest role in cholesterol lowering. TO reduce disease risk, health agencies recom­mend that everyone eats between 25-35 grams of a mixture of both types daily. No problem, you think? Well, consider that one medium apple contains 3 grams of fibre and 120 calories of carbohydrate. Eating three pieces of fruit per day along with 5 servings of vegetables per day will kick up your fibre intake to about 25 grams per day. Toss in two servings of whole grain bread or cereal and you are indeed getting 35 grams. But the truth of the matter is not so simple. First, on lower calorie diets or diets lower in carbohy­drates, the number of fruits and whole grains may be reduced. Secondly, studies reveal that no matter how much education is provided, getting five servings of vegeta­bles along with three servings of fruit per day is difficult. Even the best eaters can’t be expected to eat this perfectly on a day to day basis, despite their best efforts.FibreSonic’s 13 grams of fibre provides SO% of an individual’s daily needs. The ease of having a powder available to mix with water, skim milk or a favourite bev­erage in your office, home, or on the road, makes getting the protective amount of fibre possible in a world where nutrient intake matters more and more.Health/Nutrition – VOTE for this Health/Nutrition Article