Filling Up on Fiber Your official South Beach Diet™ newsletter includes tips, recipes, nutrition news, kitchen secrets, and more — delivered straight to your e-mail every dayThe South Beach Diet® has always been a fiber-rich plan, designed to encourage eating plenty of high-fiber foods, such as legumes, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Why the emphasis on fiber? A high-fiber diet can help normalize your blood sugar levels, improve your cholesterol levels, regulate your bowel function, and stave off hunger, which aids in weight loss.
"Fiber plays an important role in long-term health," says Dr. Arthur Agatston, preventive cardiologist and author of the best-selling South Beach Diet, "but as a society, we don't consume nearly enough. According to some statistics, Americans eat only 12 to 17 grams per day when they should be getting 25 to 30 grams."
There are two forms of fiber: soluble and insoluble. It's important to consume both types of fiber for good health. Soluble fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels by delaying the absorption of glucose in your bloodstream, and it improves cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the bloodstream as well. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool, which promotes regularity. Most foods contain both types of fiber, but oats, nuts, beans, and fruit contain predominately soluble fiber, while whole grains and vegetables contain more insoluble fiber.
"Fiber plays an important role in long-term health," says Dr. Arthur Agatston, preventive cardiologist and author of the best-selling South Beach Diet, "but as a society, we don't consume nearly enough. According to some statistics, Americans eat only 12 to 17 grams per day when they should be getting 25 to 30 grams."
There are two forms of fiber: soluble and insoluble. It's important to consume both types of fiber for good health. Soluble fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels by delaying the absorption of glucose in your bloodstream, and it improves cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the bloodstream as well. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool, which promotes regularity. Most foods contain both types of fiber, but oats, nuts, beans, and fruit contain predominately soluble fiber, while whole grains and vegetables contain more insoluble fiber.
Fortunately, if you're eating the South Beach Diet way, you don't need to count fiber grams or worry about whether you're meeting your fiber needs: The program was doctor-designed to ensure that you're reaping the benefits of a fiber-rich meal plan.
DANIELLE'S COMMENTS: There is no excuse for not getting enough fiber in your diet. A half cup of AllBran or Fiberone is worth half of your daily fiber requirements. Add an apple and a few servings of a green vegetable and you are there. Also, (1) Atkins bar has 9 to 10 grams of fiber. The more you poop, the more you lose. Go for it!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment