Here’s a New Year’s resolution idea: Get more fiber in your diet. Deciding to increase your fiber intake in 2021 is like a “buy one, get way more free” sale for your goals for this year. That’s because dietary fiber has tons of benefits for your overall health, improving nearly everything from your gut to your hair and immune system. We’ll break it down for you with these five reasons why your New Year’s resolution for 2021 should be to eat more fiber.

2020 probably did a number on your gut health.

You’re not the only person who hasn’t been strict about their diet this year. Studies have shown that the lockdown in the U.S. due to the pandemic has led to way more snacking and alcohol consumption. Snacks and alcohol are likely to have negative effects on the gut by messing with the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation (and sometimes unwanted weight gain).

If you’re looking to improve your immunity in 2021, increasing your fiber intake is an easy way to stick to your resolution.

Thankfully, fiber can help reset your gut health by nourishing the bacteria in your gut to improve their function. Fiber can also help move junk food through your system more efficiently, so your body can get rid of the waste and toxins that can have a negative impact on your health.

Fiber has been linked to improved immunity. 

By being good to your gut microbiome, fiber is also beneficial to your immunity.  In addition to improving digestion, those microscopic bacteria in your gut help to keep invaders from your body. (They actually make up about two-thirds of your immune system!) 

If you’re looking to improve your immunity in 2021, increasing your fiber intake is an easy way to stick to your resolution.

Fiber can help with your fitness goals.

Raise your hand if you start every year with an ambitious fitness plan, only to start ignoring it by February. 🙋‍♀️🙋🙋‍♂️Yeah, us too. But all hope isn’t lost! Fiber can help with your fitness goals. 

Of course, high-fiber foods can’t replace an intense cardio workout, but they can keep your weight balanced. Fiber keeps you feeling full for longer after you eat, so you end up eating less and don’t get as tempted to snack on unhealthy foods. This is especially true for soluble fiber, so if you need some help maintaining a healthy weight, try eating a diet high in soluble fiber. 

These are our top 10 favorite foods high in soluble fiber. And if you’re still looking for an extra boost, all of our fiber products are made with soluble psyllium husk fiber. (Not to mention real fruit and only organic ingredients—check out Bellway fiber supplements here.)

Fiber keeps you feeling full for longer after you eat, so you end up eating less and don’t get as tempted to snack on unhealthy foods. 

Fiber can improve your mood.

With 2020 being such a rough year, we could all go into 2021 with a pick-me-up. Fiber can actually help improve your mood! Studies have linked high-fiber diets to reduced stress and anxiety, and have also shown an inverse relationship with depressive behaviors. (Unless recommended by your doctor, dietary fiber shouldn’t replace any medication that helps with your mental health.)

Fiber can improve your hair, skin, and nails.

Remember those little bacteria we mentioned earlier? Here’s another fun trick of theirs: They play a major role in the health of your hair, skin, and nails! Your gut microbiome improves the way you absorb proteins and nutrients from your food, including the ones that keep your hair, skin, and nails looking their best. That means more fiber = a healthier gut microbiome = healthier hair, skin, and nails. 

If you’re already taking collagen supplements to help with your hair, skin, and nails, you can take fiber too! Collagen is one the many proteins that a healthy gut microbiome can absorb from your food to help improve your ✨ glow ✨. With Bellway Beauty, there’s no need to add another step to your routine if you want to improve both your collagen and fiber intake.