People all over the country are trying to lose weight. As a personal trainer I am constantly getting on my clients about what they are eating. Maintaining a healthy diet and being choosy about what you eat is vitally important when dieting and trying to lose weight. Many people are unaware how important it is to incorporate high fiber foods into your diet to not only eat healthy, but to also help you lose weight. Not only is it important, but it is also very easy to do.
Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet is going to help you lose weight in many different ways. The first is by relieving constipation. While in your stomach, fiber will absorb the water and different fluids. This will create for softer stool, and allow the stool to pass through the intestines and also exit the body a lot easier. When your bowels are all functioning well and your body is riding itself of access waste you are going to be less bloated from blockage. You also won’t be retaining water so you will look less bloated all over your body, not just in your stomach.
When eating fiber, you are going to feel full faster than you would while eating something else. This in affect will reduce the amount food that you are consuming at each meal. It also takes the body longer to digest fiber, so you are going to feel fuller longer and not over eat over periods of time. Fiber also contains no calories. Almost all of the foods that are high in fiber are healthy choices and are going to be great for your diet or health plan. Eating fiber is only going to give you better results. So what foods are the highest in fiber?
There are many different high fiber foods. From the fruit category you should choose raspberries, apples, bananas, apples, pears, organs, prunes, and figs. A lot of the fiber on apples and pears is in the skin so you don’t want to remove it. High fiber vegetables include peas, broccoli, corn, carrots, Brussels sprouts, potatoes with the skin, and tomatoes. Many grains, cereals, and pastas are very high in fiber. Brown rice, oatmeal, and whole grain breads and pastas are all great sources of fiber. Lastly some nuts and legumes, like almonds, pistachios, pecans, beans and sunflower seeds. There are a lot of different options for you to choose from so it should be easy incorporating them into your diet.
Eating a diet high in fiber is also going to have other health benefits besides weight loss. Fiber has been shown to help prevent and protect the body from diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancers. When your body is keeping your intestines clean this is also going to help you keep your immunity up and fight off common colds, flu’s, and other illnesses you may catch. Fiber is also a great source of energy and you will feel better throughout the day.
Eating fiber alone isn’t going to give you dramatic weight loss results, but it is definitely going to help. You are going to have to also incorporate an overall healthy eating plan, and include exercise into your program. You should be eating 3 meals a day, and also including two snacks. Make sure that you are getting a serving of fiber at every meal, and also eat fiber as your snack in between. Also you should be doing cardiovascular activities 3-5 days a week along with your diet to achieve your weight loss goals.
By incorporating fiber into your diet you are going to have more energy, and feel healthier. Your body is going to function better and your immunity will be better protected. You will eat less food, and also feel hungry less often. If you are unable to get fiber at every meal there are also different supplements available for you to take. However the supplements are not a good or effective as eating fiber from your food sources, so keep that in mind. Hopefully this will help you not only reach your weight loss goals, but also choose to continue to live a healthier lifestyle after the pounds are gone.
