Eat Healthy, Live Healthy — High in fiber foods, Weetabix

The right breakfast changes everything!

When you eat foods that lack fiber, your blood sugar can spike up causing hunger and over eating. It is a fact that most of us aren’t getting enough fiber so whether your goal is to slim down or stay healthy, eating more fiber is crucial.

Eating foods high in fiber is healthy but always remember to increase your fluid intake too. High fiber packed foods such as Weetabix tend to be low in calories too as they are basically plant based food. The best sources of fiber are whole grain foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and nuts.

There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and they can help lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. While insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and they promote movement in the digestive system. Both types of fiber are important for digestion and overall health.

Eating foods that are high in fiber has many benefits which include:

1. Keeps you full for long — Binds water in the intestines which can slow absorption of nutrients and increase feeling of fullness.

2. Body weight control — Fiber produces a feeling of fullness without adding calories, this can help treat or prevent overweight and obesity.

3. Lowers the risk of heart disease — Consumption of soluble fiber has been shown to protect against heart diseases by reducing the cholesterols levels

4. Lowers blood sugar levels- Fiber helps slow the absorption of sugar helping to prevent spikes after meals

5. Healthy and regular bowel movement- Reduces constipation

So how can you increase you fiber intake? Here are some suggestions:

1. Start your day with high fiber breakfast. Choose Weetabix cereals which are wholegrain and are packed with fiber.

2. Add various fruits to your breakfast. Try adding fresh blue berries, raspberries, strawberries or blackberries to your Weetabix morning cereal.

3. You can add healthy seeds such as flaxseeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and sunflower seeds to your breakfast bowl of Weetabix.

4. Consume beans or legumes two to three times a week.

5. Replace refined carbohydrates with whole grain products such as Weetabix.

6. Eat whole fruits instead of juicing your fruits.

7. Snack on raw vegetables sometimes.

8. Increase your fluid intake. Fiber works well when it absorbs water.

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You don’t have to do away with other foods in order to have a fiber rich diet, just learn how to incorporate fiber rich foods into your daily life and with all the health benefits that come with it, why wouldn’t you?