Weight Loss Series- Tip #3- Get Friendly with Fiber

Pictures of my Mexico Adventure in November 2010- Markets were full of high fiber treats :)

Time to get down to the nitty gritty. No its not that bad. Fiber is your other best friend right after H2O.

They have quite an intimate relationship. Fiber is an essential part of any weight loss plan. This is because it helps in a number of crucial ways to aid the process of burning fat, lowering calorie content and helping the detoxification process that naturally accompanies fat loss.

So now that you're drinking more water, you can tolerate adding more fiber to your daily meals, and assist the weight loss even further. Fiber requires an abundance of liquid to perform at its best in cleansing and helping the digestive system. It absorbs 3 times or more its own weight in liquid!

How is Fiber your other best amigo in the battle of the bulge?

• Provides bulk, so you feel fuller, longer, and eat less calories
• Absorbs and helps eliminate toxins in the digestive tract
• Helps regulate sugar or insulin levels, helping stave off cravings
• Helps slow down digestion, so you feel fuller longer
• May absorb excess fats before they are abosorbed

Mexico is the land of legumes and corn :)

It was such a delight to walk through the markets and see all the goodies

High Fiber Foods:

Select at least one for each meal of your day. This way you will be sure you are getting enough fiber daily. 25-30 grams per day is the ideal minimum .

Grains:

Whole Oats

Whole quinoa, Spelt or Kamut

Whole Bran fiber (only if you can tolerate wheat and gluten)

Brown, Red or Wild Rice

Nuts and Seeds:

Flax seeds- this is one of the best sources!

Pumpkin seeds

Chia seeds

Almonds

Hemp seeds

Beans and Legumes:

Kidney

Butter Beans

Fava beans

Lentils

Black beans

Chick peas

Green peas

Fruits and vegetables:

Apples

Pears

All berries

Avocados

Prunes

Kale, mustard, dandelion, collards and beet greens

Winter Squash

Sweet potatoes

Carrots

The above list includes the highest fiber foods around. This is not suggesting to limit your diet to only these options. Include them as much as possible and in addition to the many other wholesome non processed foods available.

Give it a try. See what happens...

Namaste

Piera