How Much Fiber Do You Need?

The majority of health and nutrition experts recommend between 25 and 35 grams of fiber every day for overall health. Unfortunately, the average American consumes less than half of that number. Why? Because for a lot of people, getting enough fiber just through the foods they eat can be a challenge, especially when busy schedules leave little time for preparing healthy meals and snacks. That’s where daily fiber supplements come in handy.

Bars and Shakes and Powders, Oh My!

Nowadays there are a variety of high-fiber snack bars, nutrient-enriched shakes, clear-mixing (and yes, we really mean it) powdered formulas and even chewable wafers that can help you boost your daily fiber intake without all the fuss. In addition to promoting weight loss and long-term weight management, consuming more fiber each day has been shown to support healthy cardiovascular function, improve bowel regularity and help eliminate harmful toxins from the body.

Remember that your daily fiber supplement should include a healthy balance of both soluble and insoluble fiber, since together they provide significant health benefits for the whole body, and keep in mind that organically grown flax-based or acacia fiber supplements are gentler on the stomach than many psyllium-based products, which can often cause uncomfortable gas and bloating.