Expert Answers to Readers' Questions
- How many vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products do I need to get enough fiber each day?
- How can I avoid gas and bloating when I eat fiber?
How many vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products do I need to get enough fiber each day?
Most adult women should shoot for over 20 grams of fiber a day; men should shoot for over 30 grams. You can easily achieve 30 grams of fiber each day by eating three servings of vegetables, three servings of fruit, two servings of whole grain foods, and one serving of legumes, such as lentils, kidney, black, and lima beans. To achieve 35 grams of fiber, eat four servings of vegetables, four servings of fruit, four servings of whole grain foods, and one serving of legumes.
Note on serving sizes: One serving of fruit is one whole, medium-sized fruit or ½ cup of fruit; one serving of vegetables is 1 cup of raw vegetables or ½ cup cooked vegetables; 1 serving of whole grain food is ½ cup cooked whole wheat pasta or cereal (such as old-fashioned oatmeal), or one slice of whole wheat bread; 1 serving of legumes is ½ cup cooked lentils or beans.
To learn more, read 5 Quick Tips for Choosing High Fiber Foods and Fiber: Start Roughing It!
How can I avoid gas and bloating when I eat fiber?
If you had previously not eaten many fruits and vegetables, and you suddenly started consuming nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day, you might notice some gas and bloating. It is best to start slowly and build up to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. In particular, most people tend to experience the largest amount of gas and bloating after eating beans or legumes. If this continues to be a problem, try a product like Beano™ before your meal. In addition, soaking the beans or legumes overnight and rinsing thoroughly before cooking may also help.
To learn more, read 5 Quick Tips for Choosing High-Fiber Foods and Fiber: Start Roughing It!