The truth about high fiber foods

Why you need Fiber and not from the cereal! (General Mills)

Thanks to the weight watchers point system, the mineral fiber has gotten it's fair of  being exploited.  But many are still confused about what fiber is and why they need it.  Everyone, dieters especially, need fiber!

Dieting essentially is reducing the number of calories your body takes in.  Many of the first foods to be cut out are fruits and grains due to their high number of carbohydrates.  That pretty much leaves your diet devoid of fiber.  To avoid this from happening, you want to increase the number of vegetables you are eating to increase the amount of soluble fiber you're getting.  Also consider other foods like almonds to increase the amount of fiber.   

Once you've reached your weight loss goal or reached phase two or your diet program, then begin to reintroduce other natural sources of fiber from fruits and whole grains to your diet. 

How much fiber should a man or women aim for each day?

Both men and women should be getting around 30 g of fiber per day to help with weight loss and keeping them healthy every day. Once you've reached your weight loss goal or reached phase two or your diet program, been getting your fiber from the vegetables and other natural resources, then begin to reintroduce other natural sources of fiber from fruits and whole grains. 

When this happens, sometimes people replace the vitamins and minerals lost with supplements or processed foods enriched with these nutrients.    The recommended amount of Fiber may seem easier to get from a cereal like Fiber One but is this artificial or natural fiber?  Is it just as good for your body as say fiber from an apple?

The simple answer is no.  Most of these foods have been stripped of their 'good-for-you' nutrients while they are being processed.  Then fiber especially, is artifically pumped back into the foods.  Your body cannot recognize the fiber in the same way it would from a fiber rich fruit to which you would be able to use all the nutrients plus the fiber. 

You do not want an enriched product..  You want an all natural product!