: Fiber for Healthy Digestion
Adequate fiber intake is vital for a healthy digestive tract. It helps prevent digestive problems such as constipation, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis. Recent research has found that a fiber rich diet can help lessen heartburn and may even help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Health experts recommend eating 25-35 grams per day.
Dietary fiber is the indigestible part of plant-based foods. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes all provide fiber. There are two main types found in these foods: soluble and insoluble. All fiber-containing foods contain some of each fiber with certain foods containing more of one type.
fiber dissolves in water and is found in flaxseed, oats, beans, peas, apples, carrots, citrus fruits, and psyllium. In addition to its role in digestive health, this type of fiber is credited with helping lower cholesterol and improving blood sugar control.
is responsible for moving bulk through the digestive tract. Whole grains, bran, nuts, seeds, fruit skins, and many vegetables are good sources of insoluble fiber.
Some foods are good sources of both soluble and insoluble fiber; including flaxseeds, whole grain oats, and barley. Choosing a wide variety of fibrous foods every day will help ensure you get a good mix of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
are a special type of fiber that help feed the “friendly” bacteria in our GI tracts, otherwise known as probiotics. Inulin and Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are two prebiotics. They can be found in artichokes, asparagus, bananas, and onions. Stoneyfield Farm has recently added inulin to their yogurt product line. Yogurt is a good source of probiotic bacteria. Several studies suggest that these bacteria help boost digestive health and immunity and may help reduce the risk of some cancers.
High Fiber Foods
All plant-based foods will provide some fiber, but a high fiber menu which includes the following foods will give you higher fiber intake. They will help you easily reach the 25-35 grams of fiber you need every day.
Tips to Increase Fiber Intake:
|1 cup lentils
|1 cup black beans
|1 cup chickpeas
|½ cup bran cereal
|1 cup raspberries
|1 oz flaxseed
|1 cup whole wheat spaghetti
|1 cup brown rice
|1 med baked potato with skin
|1 med sweet corn
|1 large apple with skin
|1 cup raw broccoli
|1 oz almonds
• Start slowly by adding one extra serving of a high fiber food every few days and increase fluid intake.
• Start the day with high fiber cereal (more than 5 grams of fiber/serving).
• Carry convenient high fiber snacks like dried fruit, nuts, or baby carrots.
• Sprinkle ground flaxseed or wheat bran on foods like cereal or yogurt.
• Aim for 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies every day.
• Have bean dishes regularly (baked beans, hummus, lentil soups, etc.)
• Always choose whole grains (whole wheat pasta, brown rice, whole oats, etc..).
• Mix in frozen veggies to pasta sauces, soups and casseroles.
• Have fruit for dessert.
are available in pills and powders for those who cannot meet their needs with diet alone. A few common ingredients include psyllium husk, guar gum, and hemicellulose.
Don’t take fiber supplements with medication or other supplements because they might interfere with absorption. Also drink plenty of water, at least 6-8 glasses a day to prevent constipation.
Megan Witt, RD, LD
Fiber Facts: Soluble Fiber & Heart Disease
Jackson Gastroenterology: High Fiber Diet http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs01.htm
Virginia Research and Development: Fiber-rich diet wards off heartburn http://www1.va.gov/resdev/news/research_highlights/fiber-012105.cfm
Mayo Clinic.com: Roughing it: Fitting more fiber into your diet http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=NU00033
Mayo Clinic.com: Whole grains: High in nutrition and fiber, yet low in fathttp://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=NU00204
Appendix A: High-fiber foods http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/gdm/GDM2004_section5.pdf
“To Keep the Doctor Away--A Billion a Day”, Carol Brannon, MS, RD, LD, Today’s Dietitian, Vol. 7, No 9, p. 12