Fiber to Lose Weight

Fiber rich foods have many health promoting benefits, including making weight loss easier. Instead of hurrying your eating and getting no nutritional benefits, fiber requires a greater amount of chewing. The digestive process takes longer with fiber rich foods. This all results in providing you with a desire to eat less. That is the main reason that fiber is such a popular (and nutritious!) food for losing weight.

Eating Tips

While eating fiber for losing weight, it is important to remember that you need to gradually increase your fiber intake. This gives your body time to adjust to the change. While eating more fiber, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Fiber can be soluble or insoluble, according to the American Heart Association. To get more overall fiber in your diet, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. Eat high fiber foods at every meal. Replace low fiber foods (such as those made with white flour) with fiber rich foods. Snack on fiber rich, healthful foods instead of foods high in saturated fats to help you while losing weight. Eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible, including skins, because cooking has a tendency to decrease fiber content.

Fiber-rich Foods

Foods high in soluble fiber include rice bran, barley, flaxseeds, citrus fruits, oat bran, oats, legumes (beans and lentils), peas, apple pulp and strawberries. Insoluble fiber rich foods consist of wheat bran, whole wheat cereals and breads, beets, turnips, carrots, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, apple skins and cabbage. You need to eat both types of fiber daily to have a healthy diet, according to the USDA.

Natural appetite suppressant

Fiber is used for losing weight because it is a natural appetite suppressant, according to the USDA and the American Heart Association. Fiber-rich foods take longer to chew and digest than other foods. They give you a sense of fullness and result in you not wanting to eat as much. This is because as the fiber is absorbed into your stomach, it expands and makes less room for other foods.