Fiber is found in almost every edible product that comes from a plant. In addition to being an important part of plants’ structure, fiber aids in the digestion of carbohydrates and provides essential nutrients for the human body. While most people think of fiber when considering the effect that it has on their weight, it is actually the absence of fiber that may put on the pounds rather than its presence. Here’s a quick guide to how much fiber you should be eating each day to lose weight, based on your gender, age, and athletic endeavors.
Men Over 40
This group of people are generally more prone to heart disease and diabetes than women, so it’s important that they maintain a healthy weight. For this reason, it’s a great idea for them to consume more fiber each day. The American Cancer Society recommends men over 40 eat at least 38 grams of fiber each day. This may be difficult, as most men have become accustomed to eating fewer foods with fiber in them due to Western dietary changes. The easiest way for these individuals to meet the daily requirement for fiber is through food supplements such as Fiber Plus or Metamucil. These products are easy to incorporate into their daily regimen, and many people find that they need only a minimal amount to experience significant weight loss.
Women Over 40
As mentioned before, women over 40 are more prone to heart disease and diabetes, so weight loss is a key priority for them. The American Cancer Society recommends that women over 40 eat at least 25 grams of fiber per day, but most of them don’t meet this requirement because they find it difficult to incorporate more fiber into their diet. To make matters worse, most women don’t realize the positive effect that fiber can have on their health. For this reason, it’s a good idea for them to increase the amount of fiber in their diet, even if slightly. You can easily incorporate more fruit and vegetables into your diet than ever before, and adding more fiber will only make these foods seem more appetizing. Women over 40 could also benefit from supplements such as Flora Plus or Floradolex to help them meet their daily fiber requirement.
If you’re a woman trying to lose weight, you should be aiming to eat at least 38 grams of fiber per day, and most preferably, a diet that includes both fruits and vegetables. Incorporating more fiber into your diet may seem difficult due to the plethora of foods that contain this vital nutrient — but it’s a good idea to keep in mind that it’s the absence of fiber that may cause you to gain weight rather than its presence. Feeling less hungry than ever before due to the increased satisfaction that you get from the food that you eat is the ultimate goal that every woman should strive to achieve.
If you’re looking to shed a few pounds, start by cutting out all the foods that you know are bad for you. These foods include soda, chocolate, and artificial sweeteners. Instead, you should be consuming lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. With every meal, try to incorporate some sort of fiber-containing food into your diet. Incorporating more fiber will almost certainly help you to lose weight, and it’s easy to do so!