Figure conscious teenagers usually eat high fiber foods just to reduce their dress size to fit in to a size 0 dress, however, new research might just give the youth another reason to eat their fruits and veggies.

According to a study led by Joseph Carlson, a registered dietician and an associate professor of Michigan State University's Division of Sports and Cardiovascular Nutrition, a diet that includes fiber-rich, plant-based foods is better for reducing metabolic syndrome than limiting foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that increases the chances for heart diseases, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. A sign that a person has this syndrome is the extra weight around the waist, or what is known as abdominal obesity, reported PubMed Health.

Based on the study, Carlson found that when a person's fiber intake increases, the risk for metabolic syndrome decreases. He explained that this is due to the healthy vitamins, minerals and chemicals that positively affect many cardiovascular risk factors.

Calson believes on a high-fiber diet so much he commented that it may be better to focus on including these types of foods rather excluding foods high in saturated fat which is what is commonly suggested for those who suffer from metabolic syndrome. He cautioned the teenagers though that this is not a license to eat foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Researchers cited recent national data which indicates that up to 30% of teenagers' diet consists of beverages and sugary snacks. This sort of diet the youth follows leads to low intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans - only about 13% instead of the recommended 26 grams for girls and 38 grams for boys.

Following a diet that is high in fiber is indeed beneficial in many ways aside from lowering the risk of metabolic syndrome, reported MayoClinic.com. Among the benefits are:

  1. Normalizes bowel movement - aside from providing relief to irritable bowel syndrome, it helps people pass more efficiently, decreasing chances of constipation
  2. Maintains bowel health - high-fiber diet lowers the risk of developing hemorrhoids and small pouches in the colon
  3. Lowers blood cholesterol levels - foods like beans, oats, and flaxseed help bring down bad cholesterol levels
  4. Controls blood sugar - fiber slows down the absorption of sugar which can help people suffering from diabetes
  5. Promotes weight loss - since it takes more time to chew high-fiber foods, the body has the time to send the message to the brain that the person is full