You’re always told that eating healthy will help you lose weight. But is that true? Does fiber supplementation help lose weight?
You may be familiar with the Atkins diet, which essentially states that carbohydrates are the root of all evil. For those following the Atkins diet, the answer is no, fiber supplements do not help lose weight. However, there are other benefits to fiber supplements that may make them desirable for people who eat a low-carb diet.
Faster Digestion
Fiber supplements help with digestion, as they promote the growth of friendly bacteria in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. When you have more of these bacteria, your body can more effectively break down food, which leads to healthier metabolism and weight loss. Additionally, there is some evidence that suggests that fiber supplements may be more effective at helping people lose weight than other supplements due to their unique ability to enhance digestion.
Better Insulin Response
One of the major problems for people on the Atkins diet is that they have a poor response to insulin, the hormone that allows the body to use glucose from food. Insulin resistance is one of the root causes of diet-related obesity. When your body is resistant to insulin, your blood sugar levels remain high, even after eating foods with a low glycemic index. According to research, this can lead to increased abdominal fat and weight gain. Luckily, there is a solution – fiber supplements.
People who consume fiber have a better response to insulin and experience fewer blood sugar spikes after meals, especially those who consume cereal and other grains. Because of this, fiber supplements may be a desirable choice for people with insulin resistance who are following a low-carb diet.
More Energy
As we’ve established, fiber supplements help with digestion. But what about all that excess food that you can’t eat due to the lack of appetite that comes from following a low-carb diet? If your body is not absorbing nutrients properly, you’re bound to feel low on energy, particularly at the beginning of the diet. Fiber supplements can help with this as well, as they enhance the uptake of nutrients, which in turn provides you with more energy.
Faster Fat Loss
While most people think of carbohydrates when it comes to weight loss, fats, whether found in animal products or vegetable oils, also play a role. When you consume foods rich in fats, your body stores less of it as ‘fat’ and more as ‘fuel,’ which is exactly what you need to maintain a healthy metabolism. Vegetable fats, like olive oil or avocado oil, are particularly beneficial because they help your body create new cells, which leads to healthier skin and a thinner wallet.
Diet-Friendly
Fiber supplements are rich in dietary fiber, which makes them appealing to people who eat a low-carb diet. Instead of feeling bad about themselves because they can’t have something as ‘simple’ as a doughnut, people following low-carb diets can enjoy the benefits of fiber supplements without worrying about their weight.
Although the Atkins diet is well-known for its thinning effects, it’s actually one of the most effective and popular diets out there. According to the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s), about 44.9 million American consumers were following a low-carb diet in 2016.
The bottom line is that while carbohydrates are important and play a role in every individual’s healthy diet, fiber supplements are also essential for people who want to lose weight. Make sure to get your daily recommended dose, and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle!