When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to not only reduce the calories you consume but also the nutrients that trigger your body to store more fat. One of the best ways to do this is by increasing the amount of dietary fiber you consume. But does eating fiber help you lose weight? Let’s take a look.
The Great Debate
For those just entering the fray, the question is: Does eating fiber help you lose weight? It’s a common question and one with a great deal of debate behind it. There’s certainly no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to losing weight, but some general guidelines can be applied. Reducing your calorie intake and increasing your physical activity are two of the best ways to shed off the pounds. One theory about why fiber might help is by reducing the absorption of nutrients from food. This can make you feel fuller for a longer period of time, which consequently reduces the amount of calories you consume. Also, soluble fiber doesn’t easily dissolve in water, so it can’t be digested by your mouth alone. When this type of fiber reaches the large intestine where the digestive process takes place, most of it will be excreted as shit – so in a sense, you’re getting rid of calories without even knowing it!
The debate about whether or not eating fiber helps you lose weight seems to come down to two camps. Those who feel that it doesn’t offer enough nutritional value to make a difference and those who feel that it does. Most nutritionists and medical professionals fall somewhere in the middle, feeling that it can potentially help in some situations but that it depends on the particular person and their lifestyle habits whether or not it’s effective. In some cases, it might even do more harm than good.
Should You Include Fiber In Your Diet?
Since there’s no straightforward answer to the question of whether or not eating fiber helps you lose weight, it’s probably best to look at it from a standpoint of inclusion rather than exclusion. Just because you don’t experience any noticeable difference doesn’t mean that it’s a bad idea to include fiber in your diet. In fact, it’s often the case that the nutrient profile of a food is more important than the actual caloric content when it comes to determining how much of it you should be eating. Some foods, like beans, lentils, and peas, have plenty of fiber in them but little in the way of tangible benefits. Yet, these foods are highly nutritious and can be incorporated into a diet at any time during the week – it just depends on your personal preferences whether or not you want to include them now!
As a general rule of thumb, your personal physician or a nutritionist should be able to give you a good idea of whether or not including fiber in your diet is appropriate. They will be able to give you a more detailed account of the various types of fiber and how they affect your body. In most cases, it’s safe to assume that eating more fiber than you need is not a good idea, especially if you’re looking to shed off some weight. In other words, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your diet!
If you’re at all unsure about whether or not including fiber in your diet is right for you, it might be best to opt for a diet that’s low in fiber or one that’s entirely made up of unprocessed foods. There are various types of fiber, and chances are, you’re not getting enough of one or more of them in your diet. Eating foods high in fiber will help keep your digestive system working at its optimum capacity, prevent constipation and heart disease, and generally make you feel better. So in most cases, it’s safe to say that eating fiber is a good idea!
Eating fiber is not only good for your waistline; it can also greatly improve the taste of your food. This, in turn, may make you less likely to snack on junk food or to eat foods you shouldn’t eat – like fried foods, sugar-rich drinks, and artificial sweeteners. In other words, it can help you become a better eater!
The Evidence
While there doesn’t seem to be much debate about the fact that eating fiber is generally good for you and your overall health, there is somewhat more variation when it comes to whether or not it helps you lose weight. This, in part, has to do with the different types and amounts of fiber present in the foods that people are eating nowadays. It’s not like the food manufacturers got together and said, “Let’s make a low-fiber food – what should we call it? Let’s see…low-fiber muffins? No, that’s dumb… How about low-fiber waffles? Nah… low-fiber pizza? Nah… Let’s see…low-fiber pancakes? Nah… let’s call it a wrap!” You get the idea.
So what’s the deal with fiber and weight loss? First, make sure that you’re including fiber-rich foods in your diet. If you’re not, it might be best to try and include them now, especially if you’re looking to lose weight. Second, get your nutritionist or personal physician to put you on a diet plan that’s high in fiber. Third, be sure to increase your physical activity and reduce your calorie intake as much as possible while still following the guidelines of your diet plan.