Speed Your Weight Loss - Eat More Fiber

Getting enough fiber?

When you think about fiber-filled foods, do images of cardboard, hardtack and bulgar wheat come to mind?

Your body needs fiber to function at it’s best, especially if you are trying to lose weight. Fiber fills you up quickly, controls your appetite and keeps you feeling full - all things that will aid in your weight loss efforts. Most people consume less than 10 grams and only 5% of the population is getting the recommended amount of 25 to 35 grams. Just adding another 10 grams of fiber to your diet each day can dramatically speed your weight loss.

Here are four fiber-rich foods that you can add to your diet and watch the pounds disappear.

Avocados - Each avocado contains 12 grams of fiber and is packed with heart-healthy good fats. Avocados are great sliced over beans and rice, added to a sandwich or on top on Mexican food.

Pears - Every pear contains 5 grams of fiber. Pack a pear for a mid-afternoon pickup or add them to a pizza with walnuts and gorgonzola.

Popcorn - Each cup of popcorn contains 4 grams of fiber. Try airpopping - you’ll get all of the whole grain goodness without the calories of microwaved popcorn.

Lentils - Lentils have 16 grams of fiber in every cup. Try lentil soup with avocados or curried lentils over rice.

Enjoy This Snack to Lose Weight and Get Healthy

Are you looking for a snack that tastes great and can help your lose weight. Try cashews!

Packed with protein and heart healthy oils, cashews are a great choice for a mid afternoon pick-me-up. One ounce of cashews contains 5 grams of protein and only 155 calories. What’s more, because they are nutrient rich, am afternoon snack of a handful of cashews fills you up, keeping hunger at bay until dinner.

Many people who are trying to lose weight avoid nuts, fearful of the calories and fat they contain. But studies have shown that people who eat nuts at least twice a week are 31% less likely to gain weight than those who almost never eat nuts.

Here are a few ways to add nuts back into your diet:

• Spread some cashew or almond butter on your morning toast or bagel.
• Remember how great peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are? Enjoy one for lunch today.
• Fill a celery stick with nut butter for a great afternoon snack.
• Add a handful of nuts to your morning cereal for some heart healthy crunch.
• Replace the meat in your stir-fry with raw cashews.

Go nutty and enjoy!