How Does Fiber Work in the Body?

Fiber provides its benefits through a complex series of actions in the body. Without getting into a lot a medical details (which I don’t really understand anyway), let’s look at a few of them.

High-fiber foods require you to work a little more. In general, they are going to require more chewing. This is good, as it encourages you to eat more slowly. Since it takes a while for the body to determine that it is full, this happens earlier in the meal process, causing you to eat less.

In the stomach, high-fiber food also contributes to that full feeling. Fiber absorbs water, making the stomach feel more full. It also tends to stay in the stomach longer, meaning that you won’t feel hungry as soon.

In the intestines, fiber triggers the production of chemicals that again tell the brain that you are full. An additional benefit is that fiber is not absorbed, so it represents calories that will not be stored in the body.

Fiber’s ability to reduce the blood sugar level means that you will feel less hungry and feel fewer cravings for high-calorie foods.

This Tip For Health was published in '500 HIGH-FIBER RECIPES by "DICK LOGUE" - p16'