Move Those Feet!

Does That Chocolate Cake Look Familiar?

Did you wake up this morning to an image like the one above? If so, you probably didn’t get enough fiber during the day and you fell for that cake. It was calling you, after all.

Fiber is king in my book. It’s the key to a low glycemic load, because it acts like a sponge to soak up sugar. Therefore, fiber takes longer to burn in the digestive system and this slow burn helps to keep that metabolism going.

In other words, when you eat more fiber, you burn more calories. You burn calories when you digest your food anyway (thermogenesis), and a longer, slower burn helps you to burn calories as you eat. With that said, the number of calories burned through thermogenesis isn’t going to knock off that piece of chocolate cake you ate last night. That’s treadmill material.

But, fiber helps you to stay full longer, so it helps to reduce your appetite. If you had some fiber before you heard that cake calling you last night, you might not have been half as attentive. Speaking of sugar - fiber will help reduce insulin spikes, so you stay attentive instead of going up and down like a yo-yo.

Think beans. Beans contain a huge amount of fiber even though they contain a huge amount of carbs as well. But, beans contain “good” or “white hat” carbs that burn slowly after you digest them. Plus, they give you a good shot of protein that can help to satisfy that hunger longer. So, if you skipped breakfast, don’t head to the deli for a quick chocolate “pick me up,” although you’ll be tempted (if you’re anything like me). Instead, go for a cup of chili with beans and a salad for lunch and you may stay satisfied most of the afternoon.

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