QUESTION: I have noticed quite a few articles lately about the importance of fiber in the diet, but I don't know just what this is or the right foods to eat to get it.
Can you please clear this up for me?
ANSWER: Fiber is what your grandmother used to call roughage.
It is found to varying degrees in almost all vegetables and grain foods.
A diet high in fiber has been shown to reduce the incidence of certain intestinal disorders such as diverticula disease (diverticulosis) and hiatal hernias, and has been linked to a reduction in the risk of colon cancer.
A high fiber diet also appears to lower blood cholesterol levels and help control diabetes.
It is recommended that as much as 30 grams of fiber should be consumed each day. The best sources for fiber include whole grain (such as whole wheat or oats), beans, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes (with the skin), and fruits such as apples, apricots, and berries.
Nutritional fiber can be added to the diet easily by switching to a high-fiber food from a lower-fiber food.
Switch from white bread to whole-wheat bread for example, or from white rice to brown rice.
Eat an apple instead of drinking apple juice.
Beans, which supply protein as well as fiber, can sometimes be substituted for meats.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
