In almost complete contrast to low carb diets, the High fibre diet plans were popularised in the 1980's starting with the F-Plan Diet.
Favoured by nutritionists, high fibre diets are high in vitamins and minerals and help to create a healthy digestive tract. They also help you to lose weight without causing some of the major health concerns that come with other diet plan. So what exactly is a high fibre diet? What kind of foods are you supposed to eat more of and what are the drawbacks
High fibre diets work on the basis of encouraging you to eat more "roughage" while reducing your overall calorie intake. Roughage is food that contains elements that human beings can't digest, so it's passed through the digestive tract without being absorbed into the system. Roughage is found in plant foods like cereals, pulses, and fruits and vegetables, where the indigestible part is usually the plant cell wall.
Eating more of these foods can help you lose weight in a couple of ways. Firstly, these foods tend to have low calorie counts, which means your intake is reduced. Secondly, these foods take longer for your body to break down, which means they stay in your stomach longer, keeping you feeling full and less likely to snack between meals. Also, roughage tends to absorb a lot of water, and can swell up inside your stomach, making you feel fuller with less. Roughage-type foods also tend to take longer to chew, meaning you eat more slowly, and you body has a better chance of registering fullness.
Besides weight loss, other health benefits include a healthier digestive tract, because the roughage gives stools more substance and moves waste matter more quickly through the intestines. This can prevent illnesses like bowel cancer, constipation and haemorrhoids. These foods are also thought to reduce the risk of heart disease because they bond with cholesterol and prevent it from being absorbed into the blood stream. These foods are also high in nutrients and antioxidants which work to prevent cancer.
Before you begin
This plan is suitable for diabetics, but may leave children undernourished. If you're thinking about starting a weight loss plan, be sure to consult your doctor.
