subject: Don't Forget To Include Fibre In Your Diet [print this page] If you are trying to lose weight and are just about at wit's end, dietary fibre can be your most valuable asset in the cause. For weight loss, detox, or to lower cholesterol, fibre is an absolute necessity in your diet.
What is Dietary Fibre?
Fibre is essentially, nothing. It does not provide any caloric energy and is completely devoid of any and all vitamins, proteins or nutrients. While it provides your body with nothing essential to get by, dietary fibre does provide a very important service: it helps to clean out your insides. For example, people who suffer from constipation may be those who eat a large amount of red meat but combine their diet with little to no dietary fibre. The nature of dietary fibre is to add bulk to waste, and by doing so helps to keep other foods moving through the digestive system. This works to keep the colon clean; it is the foundation of healthy bowel movement, and by getting rid of all that waste, fibre also helps to lower cholesterol.
It should be known that there are two different types of fibre based on the type of healthy foods one eats.
The first is soluble fibre, which dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance. This type of fibre is helpful for lowering cholesterol and blood glucose, and can be found in carrots, citrus fruits, oats, beans, and peas.
Insoluble fibre, which does not dissolve in water, can aid with bowel problems such as constipation by stimulating the passage of fecal matter through the body. Insoluble fibre can be found in foods such as vegetables, nuts, whole-grain cereals and wheat bran.
Ever heard the saying that brushing your teeth can stave off heart disease? Dietary fibre works very much along the same lines. It flushes out anything that your body does not need, and keeping your insides clean with regular fibre intake keeps you healthy.
How Can High Fibre Foods Help You Lose Weight?
Dietary fibre, again, provides nothing nutrient wise. No fats, no proteins, no vitamins, but, the bulking process does make you feel fuller for longer. So if you want a way to have a snack to keep you feeling fine until lunch or dinner but you don't want to put on any extra weight in doing so, eating something high in fibre can help sustain your hunger.
Eating More Fibre
If you want a simple way to eat more fibre in a day, there are many ways to do so. Have a healthy cereal with added sliced fruits to start off the day. Go for whole-grain or wholemeal pastas and bread instead of plain white. Instead of snacking on a chocolate bar, reach for the granola or muesli bar to add even more fibre in your diet. While a healthy diet is recommended, some people also choose to take fibre supplements as an additional health benefit. Making a few changes to your food choices throughout the day are the first steps toward a high fibre diet.
by: Ted Brumby
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