Sunday, April 19, 2009

Filling Up on Fiber

There are many weight loss programs that are fiber rich. They are designed to encourage eating high-fiber foods such as legumes, whole grains, and whole fruits and vegetables. Why the emphasis? A high-fiber diet can normalize blood sugar levels, improve your cholesterol levels, have a positive effect on bowel function and keep you from feeling hungry, which aids in weight loss.
The recommended amount of fiber is 25-30 grams a day.
There are two forms of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels by delaying the absorption of glucose in your blood stream. It also improves cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the blood stream. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool, which promotes regularity. It's important to consume both types of fiber for good health. Most foods contain both types of fiber, but oats, nuts, beans and fruit contain predominately soluble fiber while whole grains and vegetables contain more insoluble fiber.
Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, fiber is a necessary component to anyone's diet. Here's to filling up!

2 comments:

The Noltings said...

This is excellent information! Thank you for posting!

l.jackson said...

Good info!