Increasing Your Fiber Intake May
Help Reduce Belly Fat
Eating just a little bit more fiber could have a big
impact in trimming the waistlines of Americans according to a
new research study.
Latino adolescents and teens who increased their fiber
intake over a two-year period had significant decreases in the
amount of fat around their waists, while young people whose
fiber intake fell saw their bellies expand, according to a
research team at USC.
Oh, oh...no more fast food and junk food for our urban
youths!
The USC team looked at belly fat, which is the most
dangerous type of body fat. Fatter waistlines increase the risk
of diabetes and heart disease.
The investigators had 85 overweight boys and girls 11 to 17
years old fill out a questionnaire on their eating habits, and
then report on their diet again two years later. At this stage
of life the diets of some young people tend to get worse.
The study reported in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition showed that fiber intake fell by 3 grams per 1,000
calories consumed, on average, for 46 of the study
participants, while it increased by the same average amount for
the remaining 35.
Belly fat increased 21 percent for the study participants
who were eating less fiber, but the young people who upped
their fiber intake had a 4 percent reduction in belly fat.
Even slight decreases in dietary fiber are having a pretty
significant metabolic impact, believe the researchers. The
recommended fiber intake for young people, is 14 grams per
1,000 calories consumed, or about 25 to 30 grams daily.
Based on the current findings, increasing fiber intake
by six grams a day -- the amount found in half a cup of beans
or a single whole-wheat tortilla -- could have a significant
impact on young people's belly fat.
People of any age who want to boost their fiber intake need
to take a careful look at food labels. Just because it
says 'whole wheat' or 'multigrain' doesn't mean it's a good
source of fiber. Instead, people should read
the Nutrition Facts label to see how many grams of fiber per
serving the food actually contains.
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