Choosing the Right High Fiber Foods




With America being one of the unhealthiest nations in the world, many individuals are clamoring to find ways to live a healthier lifestyle. Many are taking advantage of fad diets or weight loss pills that promise quick results but not a lot of long term heath improvements. Lots of those looking for an actual lifestyle change have found that a diet rich in fiber will provide the long-term results they are looking for.
A high fiber diet doesn’t mean that one will be eating bland foods. In fact, most fruits and vegetables already have fiber packed inside with all the vitamins we’ve come to hear so much about. For adults, the recommended daily intake of 30 to 40 grams of fiber can be easily obtained with just a few subtle changes to your regular diet, as most Americans only get 10 grams per day.
When choosing foods rich in fiber, one can simply look at their tastes and go from there. For example, if someone isn’t a fan of fruits and vegetables, they could start with substituting wheat bread for white bread when making a sandwich. Or instead of a bowl of cereal in the morning, replace it with a bowl of oatmeal. Replace a bag of chips and a candy bar as your afternoon snack with a bag of popcorn and a FiberOne bar. Most FiberOne bars contain 20% to 35% of the daily recommendation of Fiber, while air popped popcorn can contain 4.5 grams.
Of course, the best source of fiber is going to come from fruits and vegetables. Chick peas alone can contain up to 20.5 grams of fiber, over half of the daily recommended amount. A serving of raspberries can contain up to 8 grams, while beans can contain up to 7.5 grams. Berries, apples and bananas can also increase the amount of fiber in your diet just by substituting them for candy or chips.
If you cannot fathom changing your diet but still want to increase the amount of fiber in your diet, experts recommend using flax seed in meals. Ground flax seed can be used in almost everything, including cereal, smoothies and so much more. Regardless of how you meet the daily recommendation, fiber is one of the best ways to improve your health and even quality of life.