What you need to know about a

HIGH FIBER DIET

25+
Consuming fiber is a healthy way to alleviate constipation symptoms. The USDA recommends
that adults consume 25-35 grams of fiber each day. Whole grain, fruits, beans and vegetables
are good sources of dietrary fiber. Undigestable fiber is often referred to as bulk or roughage.
grams of fiber daily

Benefits of Fiber How to add fiber to your diet

Increasing fiber intake may: SS Increase fiber intake slowly to avoid intestinal gas that may
SS Prevent or decrease constipation and hemorrhoids occur when fiber intake is increased too rapidly.
SS Start the day with a high fiber breakfast cereal. The table on
SS Lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels
the next page shows several options that contain 5 grams or
SS Lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes more per serving. Watch out for added sugars!
SS Mix yogurt with high fiber breakfast cereal, fruit, flax seeds
SS Help with weigh loss. Fiber-rich foods are low in fat and
or chia seeds to meet half of your daily fiber requirement in
calories, take longer to chew, and can help you feel full one powerhouse breakfast.
longer.
SS Switch to whole grain breads, pastas and rice.

Types of fiber SS Pack in more fruits by adding them to hot or cold breakfast
cereal, yogurt or salads; or by making fruit a dessert.
Soluble Fiber forms a gel-like substance in water. Found in
oats, beans, fruits and seeds, soluble fiber slows digestion and SS Add beans, lentils or peas to soups, salads or side dishes to
the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed. Blood glucose step up the fiber content.
and cholesterol may be better regulated with the addition of
SS Eat cut-up vegetables for snacks. Supermarkets offer pre-
soluable fiber.
cut carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, and grape tomatoes
Insoluble Fiber does not dissolve in water. It is found in whole if you don’t have time to cut veggies.
grains, wheat bran, vegetables and nuts, and passes through
SS Drink 8 full glasses of water
the gastrointestinal tract relatively intact. Insoluble fiber
or other low calorie liquid
provides bulk for stool formation. Stool frequency is generally
each day. Fiber acts like
increased.
a sponge absorbing
Your body needs both types of fiber to maintain a healthy large amounts of water.
digestive system. Retaining water in the
colon results in softer
Fiber supplements are intended to augment, but not replace stool.
dietary fiber. Dietary fiber sources are generally preferred for
flavor, vitamin content, and mineral content. SS Boost the fiber content
of soups and salads by
cooking and adding whole
Fiber Booster Yogurt Parfait grains such as whole
⅔ cup or 5.3 oz. carton Greek yogurt wheat, barley, buckwheat,
⅓ cup All-bran Buds cereal bulgur, corn, amarath,
1 Tbsp. ground flax seed brown rice, wild rice,
quinoa, and farro.
½ cup berries
SS Read labels! The amount of
fiber in one serving! fiber contained in a serving
is clearly labeled on all
packaged foods.
More than half your daily fiber

Gastroenterology Consultants of Augusta • 393 N Belair Road • Evans, GA 30809 • augustaendoscopy.com • 706-868-0104
 HIGH FIBER DIET / page 2

FIBER ROCKSTARS FIBER CONTENT

GRAINS
Grains are the seeds of grasses. But not all grains are equal.
SS Whole grains include the entire grain kernel, containing the bran, germ
and endosperm. Examples include whole wheat, rye, barley, corn, popcorn,
brown rice, wild rice, oats, quinoa, buckwheat, bulgur, and millet.
SS Refined grains have been processed resulting in bran and germ being
removed from the grain. While processing gives the grains a finer texture GRAINS Serving Fiber Grams
and longer shelf life, it also removes fiber, vitamins, iron and other important Whole Wheat 1 cup 8.2
nutrients. All-purpose flour or white rice are examples of refined grains. Bulgur 1 cup 8
SS Enriched grains are refined grains that have nutrients added back in Oats/Oatmeal 1 cup 4.0
during the manufacturing process. A number of cereals and snack bars Brown Rice 1 cup 3.2
are fortified, meaning that more nutrients have been added during Quinoa 1 cup 5.2
manufacturing. Accordingly, cereals are addressed in a separate section Barley 1 cup 6.0
below. Whole wheat spaghetti or pasta 2 oz. dry 5.0
SS As a rule, whole grains are a good source of fiber, while refined grains Bread, commercially baked whole wheat 1 slice 1.9
usually are not. Rye Crackers 2 3
LEGUMES & NUTS Flax seeds 1 Tbsp. 2.8
Legumes are plants that bear fruit in their pods, and are further categorized Chia seeds 1 Tbsp. 4.9
as beans, lentils, peas, and peanuts. Foods in the legume family are among the BEANS Serving Fiber Grams
most naturally rich sources of fiber. They are low in fat, plentiful in protein, and Navy beans 1 cup 19
pack a powerhouse of nutrients. Offering the most fiber per calorie, beans are Lima beans 1 cup 13
an excellent fiber choice. Peanuts aren’t really a nut at all, but grow in a pod and Pinto beans 1 cup 15
so are considered a legume. Black beans 1 cup 15
FRUITS & VEGETABLES Kidney beans 1 cup 13
Most fruits and vegetables whether dried or raw, are rich with fiber, offering Chickpeas (Garbanzo beans) 1 cup 12.5
bonus vitamins and minerals in each serving. Peas, green cooked 1 cup 14
HIGH FIBER BREAKFAST CEREALS Black-eyed peas 1 cup 11
One of the easiest ways to add fiber to your Soybeans, roasted 1 cup 30
diet is with breakfast cereals that have Edamame 1 cup 8
been fortified with fiber. It is important Lentils 1 cup 16
to read nutrition labels, however, as Peanuts, raw (good fiber, but high calorie) 1 cup 12.4
some cereals contain a large amount Pistachio nuts ¼ cup 3.2
of carbohydrates and sugar. The table Almonds, raw ¼ cup 4.5
below shows a number of popular FRUIT Serving Fiber Grams
breakfast cereals that offer significant
Prunes, dried ½ cup 6.2
fiber, along with a couple of popular
Figs, dried ½ cup 7.3
choices with surprisingly very little fiber.
For comparison purposes only, the table shows Dates ½ cup 5.7
the amount of fiber and calories for a one-cup portion. Note that for some Raisins ½ cup 5.6
cereals, as little as a third cup is considered a portion, and it would likely be Apple 1 med. 4.0
uncomfortable to consume a whole cup portion. In addition to eating as cereal, Pear 1 med. 5.5
crushed bran cereal can be added to yogurt or mixed in with meatloaf. Read Avocado, cubed 1 cup 10.1
the label to know what amount is considered a portion. Raspberries 1 cup 8
Blueberries 1 cup 3.6
FIBER & CALORIE CONTENT FOR BREAKFAST CEREALS Strawberries 1 cup 3.0
CEREAL Fiber Calories Banana 1 med 3.1
Orange 1 med 3.1
All-Bran Buds 39 240
VEGETABLES Serving Fiber Grams
Fiber One 28 120
Collards, cooked 1 cup 7.6
All-Bran Original 20 160
Artichokes 1 cup 7.7
Barbara’s High Fiber Original 14 180 Potato 1 6.9
Grape-Nuts 14 420 Sweet potato 1 5.9
Cascadian Farms Hearty Morning 11 225 Brussel sprouts 1 cup 6.4
Uncle Sam Original 11 240 Spinach, cooked 1 cup 7.0
Fiber One Honey Clusters 10 170 Tomato Paste ¼ cup 2.7
Kashi GoLean 10 160 Corn 1 cup 3.6
Kellogg’s Raisin Bran 7 190 Broccoli, cooked 1 cup 5.1
Spoon Size Shredded Wheat 6 170 Green beans 1 cup 4
Cheerios 3 100 Carrots, cooked 1 cup 4.7
Squash, butternut 1 cup 6.6
Special K <1 115

All nutrition data from National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/

Gastroenterology Consultants of Augusta • 393 N Belair Road • Evans, GA 30809 • augustaendoscopy.com • 706-868-0104
The information provided on this handout is not intended to replace a consulation with your doctor.