Beyond Bread - The Essential High Fiber Diet
A high fiber diet contains foods that have a lot of fiber. Can
it get any more basic than that? How about this one? Fiber has
no calories. Are you getting the picture?
Fiberlady knows that changes can be hard at first, especially
changes in your diet. She also knows that when you follow a high
fiber diet as part of your daily routine, you may feel a
wondrous change for the better.
There are no secrets...
Until there is more awareness, obesity will remain an
unfortunate and major health issue in today's society. If people
would change their food choices to include more high fiber foods
and strictly limit the amount of processed foods they consume,
the statistics might be reversed. Of course, sedentary
lifestyles add to the problem and to the waistline.
It is a studied fact that most of your American neighbors only
eat about 10-12 grams of fiber daily. It is believed by
nutritional experts that 20-35 grams of dietary fiber is the
effective minimum allowance. Eating lots of fruits and
vegetables, brown rice, oats, flaxseed, wholegrain breads and
cereals will up your fiber ante very nicely.
There are no surprises...
People who eat high fiber foods weigh less than those that are
not on a high fiber diet. High fiber foods keep you feeling
fuller for a longer period of time because they take longer to
digest. You are much less likely to overeat. When you eat high
fiber foods, they generally take more time to actually chew.
Have you ever tried to eat a crunchy, chunky apple in a hurry?
Your body weight is controlled by the number of calories you eat
and the number of calories you use each day. Foods high in
fiber, especially fresh fruits and veggies, are low in calories.
Eating a variety of fibers, both soluble and insoluble, will
provide a healthy diet. Soluble fiber comes from oats, fruits
and legumes. Insoluble fiber comes from whole grains, nuts and
veggies.
Obviously, fiber cannot be the end-all for your dietary needs.
Other nutritional foods must be included in your weight loss
plan. You should always begin by adding fiber slowly to your
diet or you will feel some unwanted effects like gas and
bloating. Drinking at least 8-8 ounce glasses of water a day is
important. Fiber acts like a sponge and without enough water...
well, you can imagine the discomfort.
The wise ones with high-fiber diets not only lose weight, but
are more likely to eat less red meat, drink less alcohol, smoke
less and stick with some exercise routine. All of these healthy
behaviors can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, some
forms of cancer, stroke and diabetes. Eating fiber-rich foods is
great way to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. Fiberlady
suggests making little changes everyday. If you can change your
eating habits, you can change your life.