The South Beach Diet has always been a fiber-rich plan, designed to encourage plenty of high-fiber foods, such as legumes, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Why the emphasis on fiber? A high-fiber diet can help normalize your blood sugar levels, improve your cholesterol levels, regulate digestion, and help keep you from feeling hungry, which aids in weight loss.

"Fiber plays an important role in long-term health," says Dr. Arthur Agatston, preventive cardiologist and author of the bestselling South Beach Diet and South Beach Heart Program, "but as a society, we don't consume nearly enough. According to some statistics, Americans only eat between 12 and 17 grams per day when they should be getting 25 to 30 grams per day."

There are two forms of fiber – soluble and insoluble – and it's important to consume both types for good health. Soluble fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels by delaying the absorption of glucose in your bloodstream. It also improves cholesterol levels by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Insoluble fiber promotes regularity. Most foods contain both types of fiber, but oats, nuts, beans, and fruit contain predominately soluble fiber, while whole grains and vegetables contain more insoluble fiber. 

Fortunately, if you're eating the South Beach Diet way, you don't need to count fiber grams or worry about whether you're meeting your fiber needs. The program was doctor-designed to ensure that you reap the benefits of a fiber-rich meal plan.

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