Heart Health

Why doctors keep pushing fiber

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Easy ways to pump more into your diet.

Fiber is the nondigestible component of plant food that can help reduce risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. But not everyone fits enough fiber into the diet. "The typical American diet includes 15 grams of fiber a day, but the daily recommendation is 25 to 35 grams per day," says registered dietitian Stacey Nelson, clinical nutrition manager at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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