Getting Your Fiber on the Belly Fat Cure by Amber Allen-Sauer

I did a little experiment last week, my 21st week on the Belly Fat Cure. I made sure every carbohydrate I consumed was a high-fiber one. Jorge Cruise recommends consuming at least 25 grams of fiber per day on the plan, but it can be a difficult task with limited fruits and vegetables. I was 10 pounds away from my goal weight and looking for ways to shake things up a little bit. I have basically been having the same few meals for the last few months and while I’ve lost at a very satisfying rate, I felt a change was necessary.

Low-Carb Products for Adding Fiber

A few products helped me along the way. Both the GG Scandinavian Crispbreads and La Tortilla Factory Tortillas have a Fiber to Carb ratio of at least 2:1 and are 0 Sugar. So I used them exclusively instead of my Trader Joe’s brand Sprouted Flaxseed bread this week. I also switched from Oatmeal to Uncles Sams or Shredded Wheat cereals for the week. Using these products for all 3 meals netted me 42 grams of fiber on some days! Yes, it also raised my Carb counts too, but I was still within the 6 Carb Servings and 120g of Carbs guidelines of the Belly Fat Cure.

My “Protein Delivery” System

I used these Low Carb/High Fiber products as my “Protein Delivery” system. I felt significantly fuller throughout the day and noticed at the end of the week that my food log had fewer snacks then usual. I noticed almost immediate improvements in my digestion and mood. The end result was that I was 2 pounds lighter at the end of the week, which I think is a great week being so close to my goal.

Dietary Fiber can be divided pretty much into two categories: soluble and insoluble. Both are important to your digestive system and pass through your system relatively intact. Soluble Fiber sources include psyllium husks (found in products like Metamucil), legumes, oats, etc. Soluble fiber also serves as a prebiotic and aids in keeping your good intestinal bacteria healthy. Insoluble fiber includes bran, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and many vegetables. I have seen it demonstrated as a broom the sweeps through your system, helping it form bulk and cleaning up as it moves along. Think of it as digestive housekeeping. Some foods contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. For example, the potato skin is insoluble, while the insides are soluble. Also, too much soluble fiber, mostly those found in supplements can do more harm than good. So it is best to find the bulk of your fiber naturally from food sources.

Before I started the Belly Fat cure I never paid attention to fiber. Yet now it has become a focus right along with Low Sugar and Low Carbs.

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© Amber Allen-Sauer. Used by kind permission of the author. What do you think? Please send Amber your comments or questions to Amber.