Fiber is an unsung hero of our health. Increasing our intake can prevent disease, treat disease, and help us maintain a healthy weight without sacrificing our appetite or our taste buds. This week, let’s discuss what fiber is, the different types of fiber, what fiber can prevent, what it can treat, and how to incorporate more fiber into our diet without uncomfortable bloating or embarrassing gas.

IBS is a painful condition of the digestive tract. Have you been recently diagnosed and wanting to understand the condition better? Do you suspect that you have IBS and need to know about getting a diagnosis?

One thing that can really take the pep out of our step is constipation. The weighed down, bloated, dragging feeling can follow us for days, weeks, or longer. Before you jump for the laxative aisle at the pharmacy, you may want to consider a few natural remedies. Additionally, if you have tried the below remedies and you are still having issues with constipation, you may want to consult with your doctor to see if there is a larger issue that needs to be addressed. For chronic issues, my go-to window is 4-6 weeks of consistent treatment before I seek pharmaceutical interventions. If it’s an acute or intense issue, my window narrows to 24 hours if things are getting worse or 48 hours if there is no change.

We begin our journey with herbs this year with the humble flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum).

This plant was one of the first domesticated by humans and has been used since the stone age (1). The fibers have long been spun into linen and the seeds have been used both as food and for the oil which makes up about 33% of the seed’s mass (2). Aged flaxseed oil is also known as linseed oil. One might assume that there isn’t much to write about this humble little seed, but you would be mistaken.