for your
health
Fun fiber
Buyer’s
pıck
facts
IRIDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
A breakfast of whole grains
can supply a third of the
daily dietary fiber you need
to keep, er, moving.
I ADMIT, IT’S NOT a glamorous subject, but it digestive disorders, such as diverticulosis, can result.
does involve a function that every one of us has Other benefits of a diet high in soluble fiber,
in common. like that found in oats and oat bran, include reduc-
Maybe it’s because many of us are uncomfort- ing cholesterol levels and promoting cardiovascu-able discussing this particular bodily function that lar health, controlling blood sugar levels, and
many of ushave problems withit. aiding with weight control by making you feel
According to a National Health Interview fullerlonger.
Survey, close to 5 million people in the United States The Institute of Medicine recommends that
say they are constipated most or all of the time. women and men age 50 and younger should eat at
Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal least 25 and 38 grams of total fiber per day, respec-complaint in the country, resulting in about 3 mil- tively. Women and men over age 50 should eat at
lion annual visits to the doctor. least 21 and 30 grams per day, respectively.
According to the Institute of Medicine, the most When it comes to fiber sources, plant foods
common cause of constipation is a diet low in fiber. really shine. Whole grains and beans are perhaps the
We eat too many refined and processed foods from most often overlooked sources of fiber. Fruits and
which the natural fiber has been removed, and a lot of vegetables are also great
meat, which is, for the most part, devoid of any fiber. choices when trying to
Despite the fact that it’s actually pretty easy to increase your fiber fill.
incorporate into your diet, doesn’t provide any —T. Foster Jones
additional calories and has numerous health benefits, Americans tend to eat only 4 to 15 grams of
fiber per day, according to the National Center for
Erin Medved
Health &
Beauty Buyer
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, the
summer months are an open
invitation to fun-in-the-sun
outdoor activities. At the
same time, I’m aware of the
dangers of too much sun
exposure, so I have been
heeding the advice of dermatologists who warn against
skin cancer, by wearing protective clothing and slathering on the sunscreen.
However, the problem is
that while sunscreens do a
good job of blocking ultraviolet (UV) light, known as UVB
rays, their protection against
UVA rays, which are much
more harmful, is minimal and
starts to weaken after just a
few hours of sun exposure.
That’s why I am particularly excited about two sun-protection products we are
carrying at Costco—Fresh
Cooling Body Mist and Ultra
Sheer Dry-Touch—both made
by Neutrogena.
Neutrogena’s new products are based on a technology it has developed, dubbed
Helioplex, which makes a
commonly used sun-protection agent—avobenzone—
work more effectively.
Basically, it keeps
avobenzone from degrading,
so that the sunscreen continues to protect against UVA
rays even after several hours
of direct sun exposure, providing the highest level of
UVA protection available in
the United States.
Bring on the sun!
FRANCE FREEMAN
Health Statistics. That’s barely half of what is rec- The Costco
ommended. Connection
“Most people are aware that eating fiber helps At Costco, members will
promote intestinal health, but may not understand find a variety of fiber-rich
how it actually works,” says Jeff Johnson, director of products, such as Kashi
nutrition at Kashi, maker of whole-grain cereals cereals, which include GoLean Crunch!,
and breakfast bars. Organic Promise Autumn Wheat, Heart to Heart
Since fiber can’t be digested, it travels through cereals and GoLean and TLC chewy granola bars
the intestine attracting water along the way, enhanc- at select locations. Costco also carries fiber
ing your body’s natural process of elimination. If supplements in the pharmacy department.
too little fiber is eaten, constipation or more severe CONTINUED ON PAGE 51
