Do High Fiber Diets Promote Weight Loss?

Mind is All

The popular high fiber diet programs claim that you won't have to think about calories if you just pack your diet full with enough fiber. This high fiber weight loss plan assumes you will feel satiated and stop eating once your belly is distended enough from all that fiber. It also counts on the high fiber intake countering the effects of unhealthy foods, such as high sugar foods, since some types of fiber can reduce the impact of sugar on your blood sugar level.

Fiber is good for you for several reasons. Fiber acts as a cleaning brush that goes through your intestines, scraping out excess waste and promoting better digestion and elimination. And true to rumor, fiber makes you feel full. Fiber helps your body handle high sugar foods without causing super high blood sugar level spikes, which cause your body to release insulin. Because fiber keeps your blood sugar level steady, it also protects you against blood sugar spikes and crashes, which can trigger even more overeating as you try to compensate for the crash.

But can you rely on a high fiber diet to help you lose weight?

While fiber is filling and does indeed promote regularity, your stomach will stretch to accept more and more bulk, making it possible for you to eat even more over time. That means you will be able to eat even more without feeling stuffed. Your high fiber diet won't prevent you from eating foods that are high in calories and yet low in density such as milk shakes, creamy soups, and pudding. The conclusion is it's not enough to simply eat a high fiber diet and hope to lose weight.

What is the best weight loss plan? Eat plenty of high fiber foods, but make sure you aren't allowing yourself to overeat on high calorie foods. Use portion control, count calories, and get daily exercise, limiting high calorie foods and relying on calorie-control and exercise to shed pounds.