Due to a large campaign by cereal companies back in the '70s and '80s, pretty much everyone knows how important fibre is in the diet. Fibre is the bulk component found in all plant foods that does not get digested when eaten. It is necessary for pushing the digested portions of food through the digestive tract. Getting enough fibre is associated with lower cholesterol levels, lowered incidence of colon cancer and

It is recommended that we get a minimum of 35 grams of fibre every day, but the truth is, we could do with a lot more than that. It is estimated that paleolithic man, existing before farm and therefore before grains made up a staple of his diet, ate up to 100 grams of fibre daily.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Hefty Hollywood actor and director Kevin Smith was recently kicked off a flight for being too fat and took to venting his anger on Twitter. What would 'Silent Bob' say?

Interesting -- the world's fattest man is giving tips on how to slim down. Which begs the question, would you take diet advice from someone who weighs 700 pounds after weight loss?

Lent begins today -- and many Bishops are urging you to give up your iPod. It's to help save the planet, they say.

Suffering from aches and pains of Arthritis? Studies show that taking short, frequent walks can help.

What causes compulsive hoarding? Here's some insight into this frankly baffling condition.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

It's one of the leading causes of death today, but apparently, 40 percent of cancer cases can be prevented by people protecting themselves from the killer disease.

Don't let arthritis slow you down -- Join the millions of Canadian uniting in the Power of Movement yoga fundraiser to fight this debilitating condition.

You can't always trust the number on the scale -- Experts are quick to point out that even if you're a healthy weight, you can still be unhealthy if you don't have a balanced lifestyle.

Sit up straight! It's not as easy as it sounds, but here are some tips for keeping your posture in check all day long.

Fallen off the New Year's resolution wagon already? Don't wait until 2011 to start fresh -- Self's Editor Lucy Danziger explains why you should have 'Mulligan Mondays' every now and then.

A new food takes the stage as a possible ally in our ongoing fight against cancer. A recent study out of California has found that a compound in pomegranates may lower the risk of hormone-dependent breast cancer. The findings, published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, were supported by the National Institutes of Health in the US.

The compound from pomegranate is called aromatase and it is a metabolite of ellagic acid, a polyphenol antioxidant found in past studies to stop carcinogenic compounds from binding to DNA, therefore preventing the formation of cancer. Aromatase may work by inhibiting an enzyme that prevents the hormone androgen from converting to oestrogen, a hormone that plays a key role in the development of breast cancer.

Principal investigator Shiuan Chen, PhD. was surprised by the findings: "We previously found other fruits, such as grapes, to be capable of the inhibition of aromatase. But, phytochemicals in pomegranates and in grapes are different."

Cinnamon is one of those heavenly sweet smells that is the essence of comfort food. It's been topping our desserts and sweet beverages for generations, providing comfort to our ancestors as much as ourselves. But could it be that the link between sweet, sugary treats and cinnamon has a more subconscious connection?

Just in time for Diabetes Awareness Month, a study published in The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine has found that type II diabetic patients were effectively able to lower their blood glucose levels using cinnamon in conjunction with their usual care.

The researchers randomly assigned two groups of type II diabetics, giving one group 1000 mg of cinnamon along with their usual treatment for 90 days. They measured hemoglobin A1c levels -- a type of blood cell that helps to identify the average blood glucose levels over time -- both before the cinnamon treatment and at the conclusion of the study. They then compared the two measurements.

The results of the study showed that the group taking cinnamon with their usual treatment lowered their hemoglobin A1c levels by 0.83%, compared to a 0.37% drop experienced by the treatment alone group. The use of cinnamon more than doubled the effectiveness of blood sugar lowering treatment.

I'm not going to tell you that the smell or taste of ginger reminds me of my childhood, or that mom used to keep the funny looking rhizomes in the pantry where I'd look at them curiously. The truth is that I didn't discover ginger until I had moved out of the house and was cooking for myself. After a fantastic meal at an authentic Chinese food restaurant in Chinatown in Toronto (before this I had thought that Chinese food was chicken balls and fried rice) I became obsessed with Asian cuisine; buying ingredients I didn't know how to use and trying to mimic flavours without really knowing what I was doing.

These days I use ginger both to give cooking that irreplaceable spicy sweetness and to take advantage of its medicinal properties. Ginger is a great source for antioxidant phytonutrients including gingerol, shogaol and zingrone. Gingerol is actually a potent antioxidant that has been found in studies to relieve osteo and rheumatoid arthritis pain, even in patients who didn't respond to medications.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Yes, sitting in front of the computer can be bad for your waistline, but not if you're spending you time on Twitter -- it can shame you into being healthier.

You know those copper bracelets that are supposed to help with arthritis? Save your money -- they apparently don't do a thing.

Here's some motivation to do some housework -- that clean smell helps you clear your conscience and feel superior.

Thinking of trying Gwyneth Paltrow's cleanse? Be careful -- one dieter says it turned her into a monster.

Want to lose weight? Start on this day of the week.

Dear Sarah, I have rheumatoid arthritis. What is a good workout that will help with flexibility, keep me in shape and get my heart pumping?

Thanks, Dianne

Dear Dianne, There are several ways to workout when your body doesn't work for you! For instance, you could swim or do restorative yoga. In your case, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) responds well to swimming. As you know, RA is a chronic inflammatory condition of the synovial joint. A synovial joint is a cavity between bones filled with synovial fluid. The synovial fluid helps lubricate, and protect the bones and provide mobility for the joint. Due to the buoyant nature of wather, swimming does not stress the joints and it gives your muscles, heart and lungs a fantastic workout.

The benefits of a swim workout include: