Most of us know that we should be working hard to work fiber into our diets, but do you know why? Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick says if you're eating foods that are high in fiber, it's a good thing.
"First of all we only find fiber in plant-based foods. That's number one, right? Which means that if you're getting something that's high in fiber, chances are it's going to be very, very healthy for you as well," she said.
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Kirkpatrick says your fiber intake should really only come from sources that are found in nature. Fruits and vegetables are the most logical ones. They are packed with the two types of fiber your body needs, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber.
Insoluble fiber, which is found in the skins of many fruit, helps us to stay regular.
Soluble fiber is found things like beans, oranges, and pears. It aids disease prevention and lowering cholesterol. Kirkpatrick says some foods, like oatmeal, contain both, but the key is to make sure you're getting enough.
"Women should be consuming 25 grams of fiber or more and men should be consuming 35 grams or more. If you're focusing on a lot of plants in your diets and eating foods that are nutrient dense, chances are you will hit those numbers without even trying," she said.
Kirkpatrick says eating foods that have fiber added to them, like fiber bars or crackers, is not the same. She says natural sources of fiber are also packed with antioxidants and other inflammation fighters the processed foods don't have.