You must have heard several times that a high-fiber diet is essential for your health. But have you ever wondered why? What is fiber, and how much is enough for a day?
If that’s so, you have landed on the right page, as we’ll be giving you all the information regarding dietary fiber, a printable list of high-fiber foods, and a high-fiber foods chart.
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What is Dietary Fiber?
Dietary fiber, or “roughage,” is a plant-based food that our body can’t digest. It passes out of the body as it is, maintaining a healthy digestive tract, facilitating bowel motions, and eliminating toxic carcinogens and cholesterol from the body.
It also helps you lose weight, enhance your skin health, and reduce your risk of diabetes.
Types of Fiber?
Dietary fibers are of two types—soluble and insoluble. Our body needs both types for proper functioning, and most plant-based foods contain a mixture.
Soluble fibers
add bulk to the stool by absorbing water like a sponge so it can quickly pass through our digestive tract.
It helps avoid a quick rise in blood sugar levels and hence helps in diabetes management. Furthermore, soluble fibers attach to fatty acids and eliminate them from the body, reducing the LDL(bad) cholesterol in the body. Foods that are a good source of soluble fiber are:
- fruit
- Vegetables
- Bran and barley
- Legumes and beans
Insoluble fibers
aid in hydration by adding bulk to stool and eliminating it from the gut. So it helps in preventing constipation and other such problems like hemorrhoids. Among the best sources of insoluble fiber are:
- All types of bran
- the skins of fruits and vegetables
- nuts and seeds
- dried beans
- wholegrain foods.
How Much Fiber Do You Need A Day?
The minimum recommended daily fiber intake (in grams) varies according to age. Take a look at the table below to get an idea.
Age | Male | Female |
---|---|---|
9-13 | 31 | 26 |
14-18 | 38 | 26 |
19-30 | 38 | 25 |
31-50 | 38 | 25 |
51-70 | 30 | 21 |
Over 70 | 30 | 21 |
Fiber Health Benefits
The health advantages of fiber are numerous. According to research, people who consume a lot of fiber have a lower chance of:
- acquiring coronary heart disease
- strokes
- hypertension
- diabetes
- obesity
Furthermore, higher fiber consumption
- brings down blood pressure
- reduces the level of blood cholesterol
- increases insulin sensitivity (in people both with and without diabetes)
Although weight alone cannot define health, adding fiber to the diet of obese people can help them lose weight much more quickly. The following gastrointestinal conditions may also benefit from increased fiber intake:
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- duodenal ulcer
- diverticulitis
- constipation
- Hemorrhoids
Additionally, some evidence indicates that prebiotic fibre may improve immunological function. Furthermore, it’s significant to remember that dietary fiber offers kids the same advantages as it does for adults.
Printable High Fiber Foods Chart
Print this high-fiber foods chart or download it on your phone as a handy reference to help you meet your daily fiber needs by consuming fiber-rich foods
Foods That Are Good Sources Of Fiber
Completing your daily recommended fiber intake must be difficult if you are not ready to eat a lot of vegetables. But did you know there are a lot of other high-fiber foods that are delicious as well? Keep reading on to get a fiber food list.
- Green, the Color of Fiber
It’s a good idea to remember that vegetables with deeper colors typically have higher fiber content. Some exceptions exist, and other vegetables are also rich in fiber.
High-fiber vegetables are also well known for being high in beta-carotene, vitamins, and minerals. More than 1,000 plant species have edible leaves, and many share comparable nutritional characteristics, such as high fiber content.
Food | Portion | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|---|
Spinach, cooked | 1 cup | 4 gram |
Broccoli, boiled | 1 cup chopped | 5 gram |
Carrot | 100 gram | 2.8 gram |
Green Beans | 100 gram | 3.4 gram |
- Go, Berry Picking
In addition to being high in fiber, jewel-like berries are well known for their antioxidant content. Berries have a higher fiber content than many other fruits because they are densely packed with tiny seeds. Of course, berries’ naturally low-calorie content is one of their main advantages.
Food | Portion | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|---|
Raspberries | 100 gram | 7 gram |
Blueberries | 1 cup | 4 gram |
Strawberries | 1 cup | 3 gram |
- Everyday Fruit Basket
You can reach your full fiber potential by eating more high-fiber fruits. Additionally to other essential vitamins and minerals, several are naturally rich in fiber.
Perhaps the doctor was right to recommend an apple a day, but he should also have prescribed pears, oranges, and bananas. Clients can rely on dried fruits to further bolster their diets in the interim between fruit seasons.
Food | Portion | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|---|
Pears | 100 gram | 3.1 gram |
Avocado | ⅓ medium | 3 gram |
Banana | 100 gram | 2.6 gram |
Dates, medjool | 100 gram | 7 gram |
- Dried Fruits
People can rely on dried fruits to bolster their diets in the interim between fruit seasons. Dried fruit is a fantastic option to achieve your daily fiber requirements.
Food | Portion | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|---|
Raisins | 2 ounces | 2 g |
Figs, dried | 1/2 cup | 8 g |
Dates, medjool | 100 gram | 7 gram |
- Take a Trip to Bean Town
Beans are a miraculous fruit. They are a natural source of plant protein and one of the richest sources of fiber. It makes sense that a few beans are a staple in so many native diets.
Bean consumption might cause bloating and discomfort in some people. So it may be best for them to incorporate beans into their diet gradually.
Food | Portion | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|---|
Kidney beans | 100 gram | 25 gram |
Lentils, cooked | 1 cup | 16 gram |
Black beans, cooked | 1 cup | 15 gram |
- Squirrel Away Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are good sources of fiber. Besides adding a significant amount of fiber to your diet daily, nuts and seeds also include beneficial fats, proteins, and phytochemicals.
You should avoid pre-packaged nuts in favor of raw or dry-roasted nuts. Pre-packaged nuts are frequently cooked in oils that might add extra, needless calories.
Food | Portion | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|---|
Peanuts | 100 gram | 9 gram |
Chia seeds | 100 gram | 34 gram |
Almonds | 1 ounce | 4 gram |
Conclusion
Fiber is an essential nutrient required for healthy living. Taking the recommended amount of fiber daily reduces the risk of many diseases. Fiber is naturally found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
It would be best to incorporate these into your diet to stay healthy and prevent different health conditions. For that you can follow a healthy high fiber food chart.
A nutritionist by profession and a writer by passion, always motivated to learn
and educate. With love for writing I ensure my content is informative and helps the reader to get on a healthy life track.