Fiber: Start Roughing It!

kickin chicken · Sep 20, 2009

Confused by fiber? Well, you're not alone. Most people are. But you don't have to know all the ins and outs of fiber to get benefit from it. When you eat a healthy diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, you usually get most of the fiber you'll need, which means you'll also be lowering your risk of diabetes, heart disease, diverticulitis, and constipation. Not a bad package deal.
Officially, fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body can't digest. Most adult women should shoot for over 20 grams of fiber a day; men should shoot for over 30 grams. Great sources are whole fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and breakfast cereals, and all manner of beans.

1. Go with whole fruit instead of juice. Whole apples and whole oranges are packed with a lot more fiber and a lot fewer calories than their liquid counterparts.
2. Break the fast with fruit. Get off to a great start by adding fruit, like berries or melon, to your breakfast every day.
3. Check the label for fiber-filled whole grains. Choose foods that list whole grains (like whole wheat or whole oats) as a first ingredient. Bread, cereal, crackers and other grain foods should have at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. Read "Health Gains from Whole Grains" for a list of whole grains and their benefits.
4. Eat more beans. It's easy to forget about beans, but they're a great tasting, cheap source of fiber, good carbs, protein, and other important nutrients.
5. Try a new dish. Test out international recipes that use whole grains, like tabouli or whole wheat wheat pasta, or beans, like Indian dahls.
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http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fiber/

simplyred1962 · Sep 20, 2009

I'm guessing me and hubby get plenty of fiber just from the beans!!

I make a crock of beans at least once a week, and also put LOADS of kidney beans in my chili, which I make about 3 times a month.

We also eat a banana every morning with breakfast...sometimes switch it out and have cantaloupe, instead.

Judi Kay

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