Increasing fiber in your diet

Increasing fiber in your diet!

I’m sure you’ve heard about the importance of increasing fiber in your diet.

But did you know that there are 2 types of fiber?

Soluble Fiber: forms a gel and helps to lower cholesterol & blood sugar
Found in: oats, barley, nuts, seed husks, legumes and some fruits and veggies

Insoluble Fiber: adds bulk to stools which helps to prevent constipation
Found in: fruit and veggie skins, nuts, seeds, wheat, corn bran and whole grains

Eating a good mix of these foods will help to ensure that you are getting enough of both types of fiber.

In general, adults should aim for 25-35 grams of fiber per day. To figure out how much children should be consuming (starting at age 2), the amount of grams is = child’s age + 5 grams. For example, a 5 year old should aim for 10 grams of fiber per day.

** Please note that some people that have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or bowel inflammation may benefit from a low fiber diet.

If you have questions about setting up your own personalized healthy lifestyle diet contact: Christine@HealthySelfie.com

 

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