Got Fiber?

While in the grocery store, I started picking up random items I used to purchase regularly (my eating habits and shopping habits have drastically changed the past 3-4 years). As I looked at the fiber content, I noticed most foods we enjoy as a society have 0% to 1%. As a result, my husband and I made sure that our first and most important meal of the day had 8-10 grams of fiber.

Cereal is probably our favorite item in the house. No we don't buy Fruit Loops, or Trix or Fruity Pebbles or any other sugar infested, artifically colored cereal. Instead, we have a small section of the long cereal aisle called the organic section. We now buy Kashi and Cascadian Farm. This is just one example of where I get my fiber.

The daily fiber recommendation is anywhere from 25-30 grams. Because the majority of what we consume, as a society, lacks fiber we're lucky if we receive 8-10 grams per day.

Many individuals take fiber supplements. I don't recommend the fiber supplements because many are processed (aka: Metamusal) and even have food coloring. In addition, it's quite simple to get your necessary intake of daily fiber by simply eating the proper foods daily. Absorption of fiber is much higher when you eat the actual foods as opposed to supplements (This applies not just to fiber, but all other minerals and vitamins).

Here are a few great foods to get your necessary fiber:

• Flaxseed, Flaxseed oil
• Whole grains
• Nuts, seeds
• Fruits
• Broccoli, carrots
• legumes (beans, lentils, peas)

Here a few tips on how to get a little more:

• Buy flaxseed flatbread instead of flour tortillas (great for wraps)
• Buy high fiber cereal
• Buy wheat germ (refrigerate) and put it some in your yogurt.
• When you make pancakes, use 100% Whole Wheat Flour and add some Flaxseed

Homework: Go into your pantry and fridge and see where your receiving your daily fiber and how much of it you're intaking. Remember you should be in the range from 25-30 grams per day.