Why doctors keep pushing fiber

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.

How much fiber does it take to fight chronic conditions?

Condition

Fiber Requirement

Evidence based on current data

Diabetes

30–50 grams daily from whole foods

Dietary fiber intake lowers blood sugar levels compared with a low-fiber diet.

Obesity

20–27 grams daily from whole foods

In the prospective Nurses' Health Study, women who consumed more fiber weighed less than women who consumed less.

Heart disease

12–33 grams daily from whole foods

Dietary fiber intake may improve blood fat levels and reduce indicators of inflammation.
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