Visceral fat Reduced by Fiber

Fiber is that portion of your food which can offer several health benefits. It has been shown that increase in body weight is inversely proportional to your fiber intake. Fiber helps to reduce weight in several ways. For example, fiber provides the satiety factor which makes you stop eating. Fiber, being not digested, cannot put calories into your body. Addition of excess calories into your body is one of the major causes for the development of obesity.

Visceral fat is that fat which is present deep inside your belly and also is surrounding your vital organs like the liver and the heart. It has been shown that increased intake of soluble fiber can help to get rid of the visceral fat. The subcutaneous fat which is present just under the skin is not that bad. However, visceral fat is dangerous as it secretes hormones and other substances which create an ideal environment for the onset of many chronic diseases.

Fiber itself comes in two forms-the soluble and the insoluble forms. Both these forms are beneficial for health. For example, the insoluble fiber plays an important part in removing constipation. It also prevents piles and colon cancer. The soluble fiber is more important in lowering the blood cholesterol. Both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are lowered in blood. It has been recently shown that soluble fiber is capable of reducing the visceral fat in obese individuals.

There are many vegetable sources capable of offering soluble fiber. Vegetables and fruits contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. For example, the skin of the plums contains the insoluble fiber while the pulp contains the soluble fiber. Some good sources of soluble fiber are legumes, oats, barley, some fruits and fruit juices, some vegetables like carrots, tubers like sweet potatoes and onions. Even coffee contains soluble fiber.