This Important Nutrient Could Help You Lose Weight

It can be difficult to keep up with all the daily requirements for nutrients. Such is the case with one superstar nutrient that experts say almost all Americans don't consume enough. This important nutrient could also help you lose weight. It's easy to add more of it to your diet, too. So, really, it's a win-win situation.

The nutrient I'm referring to is fiber. Only 5% of men and 9% of women are getting the recommended daily amount of dietary fiber, according to the American Society for Nutrition. Not getting enough fiber is associated with a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes, which are common diseases in the U.S.

So, what makes fiber so good for you? Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, a celebrity nutrition expert and New York Times best-selling author, tells CNBC.com that fiber is great for the gut. "What happens is, if you don't get enough fiber, then the bugs, or the microbes that are very important [and] that line your entire gastrointestinal system, they don't get what they need," Dr. Petrucci said. "So they don't have that good material to chomp on [and] they start chomping on the gut lining." That doesn't sound too good.

The benefits of fiber are massive. Some studies suggest that fiber can actually help you lose weight. In a study published by experts in The Journal of Nutrition, participants were given one of four different calorie-restricted groups. They also had to increase their dietary fiber intake at various intervals and included 90 minutes of physical activity each week. Participants lost basically the same amount of weight, and the study says that it was likely due to fiber intake and not calories, implying that increasing fiber will help lose weight. Fiber also makes you feel fuller faster, so you might not chow down as much.

So, what should you eat to increase your fiber intake? The Mayo Clinic suggests whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, other legumes, nuts and seeds. But, they warn to start slow. Don't try to increase your fiber intake by dozens of grams overnight. "Adding too much fiber too quickly can result in intestinal gas, diarrhea, cramping and bloating. Consider increasing your fiber intake gradually over a few weeks," they state. Also, the more fiber you eat, the more you should drink, since many fibers work better when they absorb water. Of course, consult with your doctor before making any dietary or supplement change, including more fiber. If you're wondering, the American Heart Association Eating Plan suggests a total dietary fiber intake of 25 to 30 grams a day from food, not supplements, counting both soluble and insoluble fiber. I hope these suggestions help you on your fiber journey.

Things change so rapidly these days, that it's easy to become unfamiliar with the trendy slang words that all the kids are saying. So, if you're looking for the hottest slang words to make you sound cool, you're going to need a crash course in slang for today from experts. Mind you, just because a slang word is popular, that doesn't mean you have to adapt it into your vocabulary. But, if you're curious what hot slang words are being used right now, here's a tally.

So, where does slang originate? Many times, these pop culture slang terms are first coined on a popular TV show, movie, video game or in popular music. For example, Beyoncé forever made popping the question extra cool with her 2008 single, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," which got men and women talking about if they should "put a ring on it," which sounds so much cooler than "get engaged." Also, today, social media can birth slang words. Experts also note that many young people check out what slang words influencers on TikTok and Instagram are using in videos and photo posts. So, many trendy phrases and words originate on social media these days.

It's also worth noting that while the Millennials were often known for the hottest slang words back in the day, today, it's all about Gen Z and Gen Alpha. They're the ones who are really setting the trends for slang words. It's wild to think that Gen Alpha is already coining slang words. Generation Alpha are those born from 2010-2024, so they are super young right now. Can babies really coin slang terms? Not really, but the oldest kids in this generation are just now becoming teenagers, so it makes sense that they can start to have a real impact on pop culture and slang words and phrases. In fact, a recent viral TikTok post is super funny that shows a millennial mom, Jennifer Maxwell, enlisting her 10-year-old daughter to teach her some new slang terms. Things went not so well, and Maxwell said she really has "no idea" what her daughter is "saying half the time anymore."

But, not all slang has to be so "extra." There are some simple slang words and phrases that you can use now to sound hip, or as hip as possible. Now, let's get into the hottest slang words to make you sound cool, from slang experts.

I don't like this slang term. It just sounds silly to me. But, "extra" means "overly dramatic" or "too much." So, if someone says you're extra, don't say, "extra what?" Just tell them that they're being "extra" for using the term.

This is kind of a cute one. If you're crushing on someone, you might say, "Hey, they are living rent-free in my head." It means you have someone on your mind.

This is an interesting slang term, because it really means the same thing as its traditional definition. If someone says, "That's so cringe," they mean something is embarrassing or uncomfortable. Just typing this is kind of cringe for me.

This one isn't new, but dope is still, well, a dope slang term. It means "awesome." So, if someone says something you did is dope, it's a good thing.

This one might be getting old. But, the phrase "Let's go" is super popular these days. I see almost every musician I follow use it when they announce a new release. I'm guilty of this, as you can see in the post below. It's also popular at sporting events.

A "Betty" is an attractive girl or a babe. Someone recently called me a Betty, and I admit that I had to search for the term online to see what the heck they meant. At first, I thought it was an insult.

This one is kind of funny. "OK Boomer" is really popular right now, and it's basically when someone from an older generation is complaining or being condescending towards the younger generation. If someone hates the new music out there, you might say, "OK Boomer," to them and shrug.