High fiber diets do three things to your body, they slow digestion keeping your blood sugar level steady, revv up your metabolic rate and burn more fat while you sleep and give you sustained energy that lasts all day long.
Almost as an after thought, eating fiber will mean that achieving your goal weight will be a cinch.
Slowing Digestion With High Fiber Diets
Unprocessed grains, fruit and vegetables offer a terrific source of fiber which when consumed has the natural effect of slowing down digestion.
It is pretty much a matter of common sense that it will take longer for the digestion process to break down bran than a slice of white bread (and I don't care how much "hidden" fiber the manufacturer says is added).
So high fiber diets that contain foods like air-popped pop corn, whole wheat bread, bran, fresh pears, grape fruit, bananas and apples all contain varying degrees of fiber and will slow the digestion.
Keep Your Blood Sugar Level Steady
Ever noticed that when you drink a diet soda or some candy, you get a sugar headache. This is basically because your blood sugar level has risen very quickly only to fall just as quickly signalling your body to eat more.
High fiber food has the opposite effect. Because the fiber takes longer to digest, it means that the carbs are turned into glucose slowly and at a steady rate. This means that your blood sugar level will rise at a slower rate, remain steady and then fall slowly.
Using Fiber to Revv Up Your Metabolism and Burn Fat
Because your body takes longer to digest high fiber diets, it spends more energy or calories to actually digest the food.
In this process alone, the metabolic rate is increased through a process called diet-induced thermogensis.
Basically what happens is the muscles in the gastro-intestinal tract speed up causing the body to produce more heat - which inevitably burns calories and fat due to high fiber diets.
High fiber diets therefore are a completely natural way of increasing your resting metabolic rate.
Sustained Energy Through Slow Released Glucose
High fiber foods - because they are slowly digested, absorbed, and processed into glucose ready for the body to use, form an ongoing source of energy throughout the day.
This basically means that if you often feel lack-luster, the extra fiber that you put into it will mean that it feels much more like going for that brisk walk, or doing a session at the gym.
There is actually a reason why people don't feel like exercising, it's because they're bodies aren't being given the right fuel.
High fiber diets represent the body's favourite way to keep blood sugar levels steady, increase metabolism, burn fat and provide all day long a ready source of energy.
References:
Lakatos, L., Lakatos - Shames, T., (2004) Fire Up Your Metabolism
This site is not meant to replace the advice of your doctor or dietition. Always consult a medical professional before embarking on a specific diet regime.