What to Know

• Learn why fiber is critical for your health
• How much fiber you need by gender and life stage

Dietary fiber comes from plants: think fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, beans, nuts and seeds. Diets higher in fiber can help lower cholesterol, control blood sugar, maintain bowel health, manage constipation and help promote a healthy weight. In fact, in epidemiological studies, populations with higher dietary fiber intakes tend to have lower chronic disease rates overall. A higher fiber intake provided by foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole- and high-fiber grain products is likely to be lower in calories, fat and added sugar.

There are two categories of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble. Most plant foods contain both types. Soluble fiber dissolves in liquid and forms a gel in our stomachs, so it can bind fats and can help reduce cholesterol as well as it can slow down the absorption of sugars, helping normalize blood sugar. Good sources include oat bran, barley, peas and beans, nuts, seeds, and most fruits and vegetables. In addition to oat bran, psyllium husks and chia seeds are especially high in soluble fiber—if you’ve ever stirred them into a liquid, you know just how gelatinous they get! Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, doesn’t dissolve in liquid but will actually absorb liquid, so it adds bulk to stool and helps keep digestive waste moving along. Good sources include wheat bran, whole grains, nuts, beans and vegetables.

Both soluble and insoluble fiber are considered together in dietary fiber recommendations. Your daily recommendations for adequate intake of dietary fiber vary by age, gender and life stage. While these recommendations apply to most people, if you have certain digestive or bowel disorders (either acute or chronic), your healthcare provider might have asked you to reduce the amount of fiber in your diet.

• Children 1 – 3 years require 19 g
• Children 4 – 8 years require 25 g
• Girls 9 – 13 years require 26 g
• Boys 9 – 13 years require 31 g
• Adolescent girls 14 – 18 years require 26 g
• Adolescent boys 14 – 18 years require 38 g
• Women 19 – 30 years require 25 g
• Men 19 – 30 years require 38 g
• Women 31 – 50 years require 25 g
• Men 31 – 50 years require 38 g
• Women 50 – 70+ years require 21 g
• Men 50 – 70+ years require 30 g
• Pregnant women require 28 g

Note that the fiber requirements for babies under 1 year are not well studied.

Fiber is particularly important during pregnancy and postpartum when constipation can be a common complaint. In addition to dietary sources, fiber supplementation may be very useful.

What to Do

Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains as part of a healthy diet

Unless medically advised to reduce your dietary fiber, use the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as your guide for quality and portions of your food choices. This will make it easier for you to get ample dietary fiber without having to pay much attention to specific fiber amounts.

Talk to a Happy Family Milk Mentor about how to increase your dietary fiber intake if necessary.

Choose more often wholesome foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.

These are not only higher in fiber they are also more nutrient dense than their refined counterparts.

Include whole plant foods when introducing solid foods to your baby

Introduce your baby to fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains (in appropriate textures for your baby’s development) as part of a varied, healthy, high fiber diet. Talk to your pediatrician about how much fiber is right for your child.

Consider fiber supplementation as needed

If you need fiber supplementation because you are experiencing constipation or because softer stools would be of great benefit (such as if you are postpartum and recovering from a c-section or repair of an episiotomy or tear), you have options.

Fiber supplements include psyllium, methylcellulose, and wheat dextrin. You can also simply add wheat bran, oat bran or ground flax seeds to your salads, oatmeal or smoothies.

Always consult with your healthcare provider before taking anything new.

Drink enough fluids

While increasing fiber is normally a good thing, without increasing water at the same time you may become more constipated. So be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated as well as keep your bowels moving regularly.