Fiber is the skeleton of all plants. Without fiber, plants would have no form. They’d be algae. The beautiful thing about fiber is that the human body cannot digest it. We can chew it and it feels crunchy, allowing us to satisfy our need to chew. It provides bulk, helping us to feel full after a meal high in it. It also helps to slow digestion. This is the magical bit about fiber. Instead of allowing the sugars in our foods (added and natural) to hit our system like a rocket and cause our blood sugar to spike, fiber will slow the process and allow the body to gradually absorb it, helping our blood sugar to remain stable. Stable blood sugar is what everyone who is trying to lose weight should be aiming for. Spikes and dips in blood sugar can cause cravings for sweets and exceptionally high and low energy levels. While a high energy level is good, what goes up must come down. When it comes down after a high, it’ll feel like a crash. These surges and drops are not what a dieter needs. Lastly, fiber helps to move things along the digestive tract so that nothing sticks around longer than usual.
If you’re dieting, be sure that you’re getting at least 30 grams of fiber every day. Whether you are adding Benefiber to your coffee, replacing white bread with whole grain or replacing spuds with broccoli, every little bit will help. You’ll feel more full, your blood sugar will be more stable and your system will stay cleaner and more efficient.
Just bear in mind that if you haven’t been eating a very high fiber diet, you will likely experience a little more gas as your body adjusts to the new fiber levels. Pardon the pun, but this too shall pass!
*Tip: Psyllium based fiber supplements form a gel when added to water. Drinking a supplement like Metamucil, prior to a meal, will quickly make you feel full and help you to eat much less.