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High-fiber foods
Dietary fiber - self-care; Constipation - fiber
Fiber is a substance found in plants. Dietary fiber, the kind you eat, is found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Your body cannot digest fiber, so it passes through your intestines without being absorbed much.
Function
Dietary fiber adds bulk to your diet. Because it makes you feel full faster and for longer, it can help you control weight.
Dietary fiber
Fiber is a substance found in plants. Dietary fiber, which is the type of fiber you can eat, is found in fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is an i...
High fiber diets can also help with constipation.
What to Expect at Home
Slowly increase the amount of fiber in your diet. If you have bloating or gas, you have probably eaten too much and need to reduce the amount of fiber you eat for a few days. Drink plenty of fluids. When you increase fiber in your diet, you also need to get enough fluids. Not getting enough fluids may make constipation worse instead of better.
The daily recommended intake (DRI) for adults 19 to 50 years old is 38 grams a day for men and 25 grams a day for women. To get more into your diet, eat different types of foods, such as:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
Read food labels carefully to see how much fiber they have. Choose foods that have higher amounts of fiber, such as whole-wheat bread versus white bread.
Read food labels carefully
Nutrition - reading food labels; Diabetes - reading food labels; Hypertension - reading food labels; Fats - reading food labels; Cholesterol - readin...
Vegetables, Legumes, and Nuts
Vegetables are a good source of fiber. Eat more:
- Lettuce, Swiss chard, raw carrots, and spinach
- Tender cooked vegetables, such as asparagus, beets, mushrooms, turnips, and pumpkin
- Baked potatoes and sweet potatoes with skin
- Broccoli, artichokes, squashes, and string beans
You can also get more fiber by eating:
- Legumes, such as lentils, black beans, split peas, kidney beans, lima beans, and chickpeas
- Nuts and seeds, such as sunflower seeds, almonds, pistachios, and pecans
Fruits
Fruits are another good source of fiber. Eat more:
- Apples and bananas
- Peaches and pears
- Tangerines, prunes, and berries
- Figs and other dried fruits
Grains
Grains are another important source of dietary fiber. Eat more:
- Hot cereals, such as oatmeal and farina (Cream of Wheat)
- Whole-grain breads
- Brown rice
- Popcorn
- High-fiber cereals, such as bran, shredded wheat, Grape Nuts, Ry Krisp, and puffed wheat
- Whole-wheat pastas
- Bran muffins
References
Dahl WJ, Stewart ML. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: health implications of dietary fiber. J Acad Nutr Diet . 2015;115(11):1861-1870. PMID 26514720 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26514720 .
Grodner M, Escott-Stump S, Dorner S. Carbohydrates. In: Grodner M, Escott-Stump S, Dorner S, eds. Nutritional Foundations and Clinical Applications . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2016:chap 5.
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Sources of fiber - illustration
The addition of fiber in the diet aids in digestion and helps to avoid constipation. Vegetables, fresh fruits (especially dried fruits) and whole wheat, bran, or oatmeal cereals are excellent sources of fiber. To reap the benefits of fiber, it is very important to drink plenty of fluids.
Sources of fiber
illustration
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Sources of fiber - illustration
The addition of fiber in the diet aids in digestion and helps to avoid constipation. Vegetables, fresh fruits (especially dried fruits) and whole wheat, bran, or oatmeal cereals are excellent sources of fiber. To reap the benefits of fiber, it is very important to drink plenty of fluids.
Sources of fiber
illustration
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Fiber
(Alt. Medicine)
Review Date: 8/14/2016
Reviewed By: Emily Wax, RD, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
