Archive for June 23rd, 2009

High Fiber Diet Key to Permanent Weight Loss

Did you know that on average, most Americans are almost a full ten grams short of getting the recommended daily allowance of dietary fiber in their diet? That’s really alarming, considering that fiber is what fills us up and what makes foods whole and satisfying to eat. It’s also a huge key to regulating your blood sugar and making sure that you “stay regular”, which helps you to regulate your weight and keep the pounds off after you lose initial weight. I know I myself probably come up short during the day in my fiber intake, so if I do, I really try to make sure I make up for it with dinner by eating mostly vegetables, a little bit of meat, and a big salad with dark leaves, like spinach instead of iceberg lettuce.

Studies have actually proven that people with high fiber diets keep weight off longer and also lose more weight initially when they are going through the weight loss process. To the tune of 2 to 3 more pounds, which is nothing to sneeze at! I read once that we are actually subconsciously drawn to high fiber foods because nature has made them brightly colored, like fruits and veggies that are high in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and grapes.

Also, whole grains are tasty, giving us that hankering we get for refined carbs, without all that refined sugar, and with a lot of dietary fiber to boot, which – you guessed it, fills the belly and helps regulate the blood sugar for a longer period of time than those foods without the fiber content. They also are easier for the body to get rid of the food – as in to not clog up the colon and the intestines, which can add pounds on and build up toxins in the body.

The reason that it’s called “roughage” or bulk is because it actually acts as a bulking agent for your waste (ie bowel movements), and makes it easier for the body to process and get rid of it. Foods that have zero fiber need to be counteracted by a lot of water and by eating other foods with a high fiber content in between so that your body can process and eliminate these foods, as well as digest them properly, which helps you to absorb nutrients and vitamins better and contributes to your overall health and well being.