Friday, November 6, 2009

Fiber - A Key To Optimal Weight

By Alex Ariel Sanders

Bodybuilders have known for years about the direct connection between fiber and fat loss. However, until recently, it has been one of the few well kept secrets of those who intend to build muscle or trim body fat. Now, reports are coming out showing this correlation as well as the drop in occurrence of chronic degenerative diseases.

Fiber is literally the indigestible cell walls of the fruits and vegetables we eat. Cell walls are structures unique to plants, meaning you cannot get fiber from meat. There are two forms of fiber; a) soluble, meaning it will dissolve in water and b) insoluble, meaning it will not dissolve in water. Both forms of fiber are necessary to a healthy diet. Increasing the amount of fiber taken leads to a natural reduction in caloric intake as all fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories.

The two types of fiber work differently within the body's structures to promote fat loss and better health. Soluble fiber bonds with the bile produced by the liver and with cholesterol in the bloodstream helping it flush out of the body through elimination. This prevents the buildup of triglycerides in the blood.

Insoluble fiber provides bulk. It is what is responsible for the feeling of fullness after we eat. Insoluble fiber does not digest completely in the digestive tract, meaning that it is also the bulk of the matter we eliminate from the bowels. While it does not dissolve in water, it does absorb it, helping to maintain the correct balance of water in the bowels and prevent constipation or diarrhea. Strange how more fiber in the diet prevents both extremes of bowel problems!

Insoluble fiber also takes credit in getting rid of the fat that has already bonded with the soluble fiber out of your body.

In addition to all of these benefits, fiber in general leads to the body burning its fat stores ridding the body of toxins that could cause illness and premature aging and consequently giving a person more energy.

If you can just replace your sugar-rich foods and some of your red meat by more fruits and vegetables that have low calories and more fiber, you would be able to really enjoy the benefits of fiber and lose weight. You can further improve their effectiveness if you can also exercise, since exercises increases the amount of calories burned and speeds up your metabolism.

Surely, you can no longer hide the fact that fat loss and fiber are correlated. What's more, you can slow down the process of aging and get rid of degenerative diseases; foods that are high in fiber also have a lot of nutrients that can prevent illnesses.

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