(PCM) If you buy a lot of fiber-enriched foods (fiber bars, cereals, dairy products) in hopes of weight management or satiety, it may be time to rethink your grocery list.
A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition found that eating bars with added fiber for breakfast does not decrease hunger, food cravings, or food consumption throughout the day. However, when fiber is consumed from natural sources, like oatmeal, fruits, and vegetables, it’s a different story. A U.S. Department of Agriculture study previously found that women who increased their fiber intake from 12 to 24 grams absorbed 90 fewer calories a day than those who ate the same amount of food but less fiber, according to Women’s Health.
So what’s the difference? Further research is needed, but it’s believed that our bodies perceive and process added fiber differently than from natural fiber.
Check out the ingredient list of products before buying, and look out for oat bran, barley bran, cellulose, pectin, gums, soluble corn fiber, inulin, polydextrose, agave, and fruit extracts. Start adding more whole grains, beans and legumes, vegetables and nuts to your diet instead. Natural is always better!
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Forget the Cardboard Box – All the Fiber You Need is in the Produce Aisle
