Chris, what is the most underrated nutrient?
So, glad you asked.
I think fiber is the most underrated nutrient; on average, most Americans are horrible at getting enough in their diet.
When I talk about fiber, I don’t mean the day-old bran muffin you accidentally grabbed at Starbucks. Sorry, that happened to you; blueberry muffins taste way better.
Let’s talk about fiber, why you need it, and 30 different high-fiber foods you can try.
What Is Fiber?
If we take a minute to get sciencey, there are specific types of carbohydrates the body can more easily turn into sugar molecules, called glucose. Fiber does not break down into sugar molecules and therefore passes through the body undigested.
You can call fiber “nature’s broom.”
There are two types of fiber in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
Soluble or fermentable fibers are fermented in the colon.
Insoluble fibers have bulking action and ferment for a shorter period.
Soluble fibers will dissolve in water (plant pectins), and insoluble fiber will not dissolve in water (plant cellulose and hemicellulose).
Both types of fiber take more time for the body to digest properly, which is why adding fiber to your diet can be helpful for hunger and fullness between meals.
Not to mention most high-fiber foods are unprocessed, low calorie, and nutrient-dense.
As the body digests soluble fiber, it creates a gel-like substance that might improve digestion. Sources of soluble fiber are oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley, and psyllium.
Insoluble fiber soaks up water which helps to make it easier to poop. Sources of soluble fiber are beans, whole wheat or bran products, green beans, potatoes, cauliflower, and nuts.
How Much Fiber Should You Have?
The adage that too much of anything can’t be good applies to fiber.
When someone starts overconsuming fiber to become “healthy” after watching a Tiktok video on creating the ultimate fiber drink, they usually end up bloated, gassy, and constipated. Ironic, huh?
Getting more fiber in your diet is good, but going from zero to 150 isn’t your best bet.
So, my eager beaver friend, I would try to stick to these dietary guidelines:
Adult Men: 36 g/day
Adult Women: 28g/day
Most Americans consume less than half of the recommended amount of fiber.
Earlier I made fun of the person drinking the Tiktok fiber bomb beverage, and now I want to apologize. They are just trying to get more fiber in their diet.
You can drink a fiber supplement if you have difficulty hitting the daily recommended amount; however, the phytonutrients & micronutrients are usually missing from those supplements.
Don’t worry.
Keep reading.
I’ve got you covered with 30 high-fiber foods you can add to your diet.
30 High Fiber Foods
You will find the fiber, serving size, and calories for each food.
Fruit
Raspberries:
- 1 cup
- 8g fiber
- 64 calories
Avocado:
- 1 cup
- 9.8g fiber
- 233 calories
Strawberries:
- 1 cup (halves)
- 3.3g fiber
- 53 calories
Apple:
- 6 oz apple
- 4.3g fiber
- 93 calories
Banana:
- 6.5 oz banana
- 3.1g fiber
- 105 calories
Pear:
- 7 oz pear
- 5.5g fiber
- 103 calories
Blackberries:
- 1 cup
- 7.6g fiber
- 62 calories
Vegetables
Carrots:
- 1 cup chopped
- 3.6g fiber
- 52 calories
Green Peas:
- 1 cup raw
- 7.4g fiber
- 117 calories
Broccoli:
- 1 cup chopped raw
- 2.4g fiber
- 31 calories
Brussel Sprouts:
- 1 cup raw
- 3.3g fiber
- 38 calories
Beets:
- 1 cup sliced boiled
- 1.7g fiber
- 37 calories
Artichokes:
- 5.6 oz
- 8.6g fiber
- 75 calories
Sweet Potato:
- 3.9 oz baked
- 3.7g fiber
- 100 calories
Legumes
Split peas:
- 1 cup boiled
- 16.3g fiber
- 231 calories
Lentils:
- 1 cup boiled
- 15.6g fiber
- 229 calories
Kidney beans:
- 1 cup canned
- 11g fiber
- 210 calories
Black Beans:
- 1 cup boiled
- 15g fiber
- 227 calories
Lima Beans:
- 1 cup boiled
- 14g fiber
- 229 calories
Garbanzo Beans
- 1 cup boiled
- 12.5g fiber
- 269 calories
Seeds
Chia seeds:
- 2 tablespoons
- 10g fiber
- 130 calories
Almonds:
- 1/4 cup slices
- 2.7g fiber
- 133 calories
Sunflower seeds:
- 1/4 cup
- 1.2g fiber
- 65 calories
Pumpkin seeds:
- 1/4 cup
- 1.9g fiber
- 169 calories
Grains
Barley:
- 1 cup cooked
- 8.6g fiber
- 193 calories
Bran Flakes:
- 1 cup
- 7g fiber
- 110 calories
Quinoa:
- 1 cup cooked
- 5.2g fiber
- 222 calories
Oatmeal:
- 1/2 cup cooked
- 4.1g fiber
- 154 calories
Popcorn:
- 1 cup plain
- 1.2g fiber
- 31 calories
Brown rice:
- 1/2 cup steamed
- 1.6g fiber
- 124 calories
Mission, Carb Balance, Whole Wheat Tortilla
- 1 tortilla
- 23g fiber
- 110 calories
May you live a long life full of many poops.
I hope you will consider the many health benefits of having fiber in your diet.
There are so many diets that people try to follow; one, in particular, suggests removing fiber altogether from your diet.
If you follow that diet, I suggest you consider the long-term effects and ask yourself if you genuinely enjoy having horrible poops.
If you answered yes, this article was a complete waste of your time.
If you answered no, I think you wisely spent your time. 😉
Social media is the wild wild west of nutrition and if you’re confused, shoot me a message on the gram.
If you want to take the guesswork out of your nutrition, I can help you. Click here to learn more about my 1:1 coaching services.
