Meet Viscous Fiber, Your Most Voracious Weight-Loss Tool

When it comes to weight loss, everybody (and every body) is different. Viscous fiber is a special type of fiber that can help you eat less without even trying. While all types of fiber help promote fullness and reduce appetite, viscous fiber is the best at it.

Here’s why: The term “viscous” essentially refers to thickness. For example, maple syrup is more viscous than water. Viscous fibers, which include pectins, beta-glucans, glucomannan, guar gum, and psyllium, all thicken in water and form a gel-like substance in your stomach. When you eat foods with viscous fiber, the gel it forms “sits” in your stomach and takes its time to move through your digestive system. This means you’re less likely to get too hungry and overeat later, or snack mindlessly.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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