Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Fiber for Weight Loss

Chances are you are missing out on a great (and easy) way to lose weight or maintain your healthy weight. On average, women only get about 50% of their recommended fiber intake (25 grams a day). We just do not eat enough fiber-rich foods on a daily basis. While many think of fiber in terms of digestive health or cholesterol reduction, fiber is also a great weight loss and healthy weight maintenance aid. In one study, researchers found that not only were fiber-rich whole grain foods related to a lower weight in women, but that the women who ate higher fiber diets gained half the weight of those eating mostly refined carbs over a 12 year period. Also, overweight and obese women benefited the most from eating fiber-rich whole grains. Fiber increases satiety, so you stay satisfied longer and it decreases the amount of sugar and insulin released into the blood stream. This helps decrease fat storage in your body. Here is the good news, it is easy to eat more fiber. A new study shows just how easy it is to increase your daily fiber significantly by eating a couple bowls of cereal. In the study they used All Bran as one of the test cereals, just 1/2 cup has 10 grams of fiber. Here are some recommendations for starting off the day in a fiber-rich way:
-Try eating a high fiber cereal like All Bran with low-fat (or non-fat) milk -- you may like it.
-If high fiber (at least 5 grams) cereals are not your style, pick a whole grain cereal and sprinkle in a higher fiber cereal such as All Bran Bran Buds (1/3 cup has 13 g fiber) with low-fat milk.
- Now add an apple (3 more grams of fiber) and you are now almost half way there (depending on which cereal you picked, you may be over half way to meeting your goal of 25 g of fiber).
Let's complete the day to get you to your fiber goal. After having your fiber-rich breakfast, eating the following foods throughout the day will help you reach 25 g.
- eat a medium sized pear with lunch for 5 grams and a slice of whole wheat bread 2 grams
- eat 1/2 cup beans or lentils with dinner for another 5-10 grams depending on the bean or lentil
- eat another high fiber bowl of cereal with low-fat milk as a snack if you are hungry after dinner for another 5 grams.
Total fiber -- 25 grams or more

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you tried Proleva? It contains the antioxidant equivalent of 9 glasses of green tea.

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