Don’t forget the fiber

This essential nutrient falls short on Americans' dietary to-do lists

With swimsuit season underway, weight control is top of mind for many Americans. While most dieters keep tabs on calories, fat and even carbohydrates, one thing that’s often missing from weight management plans is fiber.

According to the new “FiberChoice Fiber Facts” survey, almost two out of three adults say they would take steps to increase their fiber intake if they thought it would help them control their weight. Unfortunately, most Americans just aren’t getting enough of this essential nutrient in their diets.

“People think fiber may simply aid in digestive health, but it also can help you lose weight because it helps you feel full longer and curbs cravings,” said Leslie Bonci, M.P.H., R.D., L.D.N., author of the American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion and co-author of Total Fitness for Women. “Increasing fiber might be that extra boost you need to stay on track and lose those extra pounds. Increasing fiber intake may also help lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.”

The recommended adult intake of fiber is 28 to 38 grams per day. Yet, government studies show that the typical American eats less than half of what they need — about 12 to 15 grams of fiber per day.

According to the survey, most Americans (86 percent) admit they do not keep track of daily fiber intake, yet more than nine out of 10 believe it’s either very important or somewhat important to get enough fiber in their diet.

“When people think of fiber they oftentimes think of bowel regularity,” said Bonci. “But just because you are regular, that doesn’t mean you’re getting enough fiber in your diet.”

Eating foods rich in fiber is, of course, the ideal way to get the fiber you need. But the reality is that most people — especially women — don’t even come close to eating enough fiber.

While most Americans associate fiber with colon health (83 percent), only half (56 percent) are aware that it can help them lose weight. According to the survey, only 4 percent of Americans say they take a fiber supplement on a daily basis. Among those respondents who haven’t tried fiber supplements, 60 percent say it’s because they’re not convenient and another 28 percent say it’s because fiber supplements taste bad.

Now there are two new convenient and great-tasting options to help Americans bridge the fiber gap. New FiberChoice Fiber Drops and FiberChoice sugar-free chewable tablets in Assorted Fruit Flavors offer an easy and tasty way to help reach the recommended 28 to 38 grams of fiber each day. At 4 grams of fiber per two tablet serving — compared to 1 gram of fiber per competitor capsules — the FiberChoice drops and chewable tablets are a great way to get more fiber in your diet and help keep weight management in check.

The individually wrapped FiberChoice Fiber Drops are the first ever fiber supplement available in a hard candy form. The drops come in a Tropical Orange flavor that taste as good as candy, are low in sugar and are perfect to keep handy in a purse, desk drawer or glove box. Both the FiberChoice Fiber Drops and the FiberChoice sugar-free chewable tablets in Assorted Fruit Flavors contain more soluble dietary fiber per dose than other fiber supplement brands and require no water, so they don’t create a mess. Both products are available nationwide at mass merchandise retailers, drugstores and supermarkets.

For more information about FiberChoice products and the various health benefits of fiber, visit www.fiberchoice.com.

— ARA Content