Meal planning for a Diabetic is a required daily or weekly task depending on how you want to handle it. If your goal is safe weight loss then some time must be spent planning your weight loss meals. Besides planning a meal schedule, much thought should go into what are good weight loss foods. Fiber a very useful part of any diet is sometimes overlooked when planning meals as we often just focus on calories.
There are several more posts on this site that go into more details about Diabetic Meal Plans, but I am going to discuss the importance of adding dietary fiber to your diet each and every day. For one thing it helps to cleanse your body the natural way and is an easy way to detox your body and keep it on the path to health. For variety weight loss foods can be made into weight loss drinks. If you use a blender or food processor instead of a juicer, you retain the needed fiber.
Foods that contain fiber are like preventative medicine without the side effects. Dried beans, prunes (dried Stanley Plums) and some Cereals are commonly accepted sources of fiber. One often overlooked is fresh green vegetables like Broccoli, Turnip Greens, Collards, Cale, Cabbage and even Spinach and Celery. Unpeeled Apples are another source and help to satisfy you sweet tooth at the same time.
Naturopathic Doctors strongly suggest that we increase roughage (fiber) in our diets. To make it even more acceptable when planning your diabetic meals, make a dip out of plain yogurt and spices like garlic powder, onion power, drided parsley, basil or any herb you like and use it as a dip for your raw vegetables. Another way to add interest and fiber is to choose one of mentioned high fiber vegetables and add 1/2 cup chopped as a garnish on top of soups or stews. You get to eat something warm and steaming but add interest and texture with the raw vegetable.
The latest holistic medical research suggests the high incidence of heart disease, diabetes, bowel disease, hernia and diverticulitis in western countries is because of a lack of dietary fiber in the diet. Again with just a little planning, you can get off the track to all of the above unwanted side effects from not eating enough fiber!
How much dietary fiber are you consuming on a daily basis? Americans usually avoid high fiber diets because of a concern that it will increase gas levels and bloating. As a matter of fact eating fiber will help the normal detoxification processes, normalize your bowel and support maintenance of a healthy weight and prevent bowel diseases.
If you eat fiber on a daily bases your digestive system will adapt and learn to properly process the new foods. Another benefit of eating the cruciferous vegetables cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, collards, kale all members of the Brassica family is the assistance in preventing colon cancer according to recent research.
Dietary fiber amounts are now listed on most product labels in supermarkets. It is suggested that we consume at least 35 grams of dietary fiber daily. This amount can assist in re-establishing proper digestion in your body by toning and strengthening your bowel, eliminating harmful toxins.
High Fiber Foods in Your Diet represent the eaisest way for you to lose weight, prevent disease, stay slim and have more energy. Since safe weight loss is often a desirable goal, increasing daily fiber when planning your meals is easy. Just remember to visit and buy from the produce counter at your favorite grocery store.
Dietary fiber and digestive enzymes are a great way to improve poor digestion. Needless to say, eating some of your vegetables raw and unprocessed is a gift to your digestive tract and a way to improve the absorbtion of needed nutrients. Raw foods still contain live components that aid in digestion.
For more information, please check out the 2 Day Detox Diet by clicking here.
