Increasing Your Daily Fiber

When I started a real weight loss diet, I knew that fiber was good for me. It helps you feel full, keeps the intestines in shape, and are included in healthy foods that are great for weight loss and energy. However, when it came to the amount I was getting in my food, it became very difficult to eat the correct amount of fiber in one day. I would need about five-six cups of cereal, or more, or ten fruits, and I couldn't eat enough without feeling sick. But, if you pace yourself and know where to find fiber, this can be an easy diet step.

Let's begin with the obvious. While you may have done this already, as it is healthier, you will want to switch everything to whole grain. Brown rices and bread, whole wheat, and a slew of grains (like barley), will help fulfill your goal. Remember, they're better for you and usually taste better.

You also will have to avoid everything with white flour. This bleached variety offers little in terms of nutrition, and just helps you keep the pounds on. Everything should be brown, not white and bleached.

While this step was hard for me, since I don't like them, beans are a good addition to your diet. They are high in fiber, along with protein, so they are really good.

What I found easier was switching cooked vegetables for raw. Many people don't know this, but cooking the vegetable actually vaporizes the fiber and vitamins. You're really just eating flat carbs at that point, so there's no point wasting the time cooking. Besides, raw broccoli has a semi-spicy flavor that was amazing, a taste I never found once it was cooked.

Of course, fruit is something else to be added. A few pieces a day can really get those fiber levels up, along with healthy sugars to keep you energized. While I know that there is low-carb propaganda everywhere saying that fruit is bad, the low levels of fructose are good for you and keep your brain healthy, along with the rest of your body.

However, ingest the fruit raw. Cooking it will do the same to fruit as with vegetables, but there is another threat. Juicing, while it does retain most of the vitamins and makes eating/drinking the fruit easier, it also kills the fiber. While having juice and smoothies is good for other reasons, eat the fruit raw for optimal fiber content.

Lastly, with your morning cereal, sprinkle on some bran flakes to up the fiber. They can be delicious, and good for you.

Adding one fiber rich food to each more, or eating one as a snack, will help you easily reach your goal without getting sick of eating the same food over and over.