How can fiber help me lose weight?

Two important lifestyle factors can affect your body weight more than any others.

The first is work-related physical activity. Individuals who walk and stay mobile as part of their jobs are less likely to be overweight. The second factor is dietary fiber.

If you are mostly stationary during your work day, it’s a good idea to look at how much fiber you are getting in your diet.

Fiber serves two main purposes that affect your health. Soluble fiber — in foods like oat bran, nuts, beans, and some fruits and vegetables — helps prevent your body from reabsorbing bile acids in your gastrointestinal tract, which can help lower your cholesterol without medication. Insoluble fiber — found in wheat bran, whole wheat bread, and many vegetables — absorbs water in your colon and can help keep you regular. Because fiber absorbs water, it can also help you feel fuller after taking in fewer calories.

Most of us get less than the 25 grams of daily fiber recommended by the American Heart Association.

Read the Full Article at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/answers-nutrients/answers-fiber-lose-weight?ecd=wnl_wlw_101312&ctr=wnl-wlw-101312_ld-stry_1

Source:  by James Beckerman, MD FACC for WebMD at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/answers-nutrients/answers-fiber-lose-weight?ecd=wnl_wlw_101312&ctr=wnl-wlw-101312_ld-stry_1