Friday, October 30, 2009

Fiber Does More Than Just Help You Poop

A boost in your fiber intake can increase your weight loss efforts. Maybe eating fiber-rich foods seems challenging to you because you anticipate gastrointestinal discomfort? Don’t worry. A slow introduction of fiber-rich foods will give your body a chance to adjust to the change and minimize discomfort.

It’s a whole lot easier to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight with fiber-rich foods than without. The good news is that foods high-fiber have bulk that helps you feel full and they are digested slowly. This means it will take longer for you to feel hungry again. Healthy balance of your intake of soluble and insoluble fiber will aid in maintaining digestive health and lower the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol.

Jump start your fiber rich diet with some ideas such as the following:

Whole grains: Most of us know that fiber from white bread is inferior to whole grain sources. Some contain just 1 gram of fiber per slice. Opt for whole grain breads that contain at least 3 grams of fiber.

Flaxseed sprinkles: Two tablespoons of ground flaxseed contain approximately seven grams of fiber. Sprinkle it in your favorite pancake mix or on top of your oatmeal; it adds a nice nutty flavor.

Pasta switch: Whole grain pasta has three times as much fiber as regular pasta. Switch from regular pasta and add whole grain pasta topped with marina sauce and a side of steamed for a healthy meal.

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