Fiber

I am just wondering? How do you feel about fiber? When "googled", most resources that I have found indicate most Americans get half or less the recommended amount of fiber per day in their diets. Which I guess, makes me in the minority. Most sources seem to agree the recommended amount varies from about 25g (women) to 35g (men) per day. On my goal of 2000 calories a day I eat about 35g even when I don't make the best choices. I like foods rich in fiber...they fill you up and take longer to digest. How much fiber is too much fiber?

Thanks!

if it hurts ur belly its probably to much.

I think fiber is an underrated nutrient.

Fruits, vegetables, and legumes are our friends in this regard. I try to eat lots of them.

I agree with Hoser ... fruits and veggies and lots of them, best source of fiber ... i do not consider fiber a nutrient, though, it's just a carbohydrate we can't digest - fills us up, luckily, and passes through. There is no nutritional value in fiber ... i.e. vitamins, etc. I do think the recommendations for eating 35 grams worth of fiber seems high ... i have eaten lots of berries, an apple, a cucumber, some peppers and plan on a few more fruits, veggies and some crackers and my daily total is less than 22 grams ... i would need to eat 3 more apples, or some such ... i guess that's a good thing, but i'd be sick of apples.

I also had to laugh and agree with Jeremy ... if it hurts your belly, probably too much of it ... beans tear me up ... internally and (pardon) externally ... i like how full they make me feel, and welcome any additional protein, but i only consider legumes as a last choice in what i eat.

much like some feel about protein, get a fruit and/or vegetable in each meal or snack, and you will get a pretty decent amount of healthy fiber. no supplemental fiber though ... unless a doctor suggests it. even then, i'd aim for more fruits and veggies over metamucil or whatever ...

If your poop floats your are getting enough fiber. I have just managed to achieve floaters.

That is funny - I don't think mine ever floats and I often eat >50 grams of fiber and always more than 25 grams. Hmmmm. I'll have to pay more attention, but I'm not sure my basin has enough room for it to float! TMI -- LOL

I understood if it floats you are eating excess fat. Mine used to always float when I wasn't getting any fiber. Now that I get plenty, they drop like stones. Now I have to go look it up. Don't you LOVE the Internet?

http://www.poopreport.com/Doctor/Content/float.html. Very funny article on floaters and sinkers.

Love it --- poopreport.com --- too funny!

As I teach my 5 year old... the importance of fiber is it makes you poop.

Not only does it fill us up but it also helps keep you regular and cleanses your body of all of the junk in it. I try to eat a decent amount of it every day.

Johanne, that burst my bubble....but it does make sense since I have been tooting more.

FOL, if you continue to eat high fiber, the gas will stop in about 4-6 weeks. I've been doing this for two years now, including no gluten and I'm very happy to say, I have 0 gas. I guess that explains the sinkers. LOL!

re: Fiber and gas. Before I started eating lots of fiber (50+g a day) I had a serious problem with both irregularity, hard/uncomfortable movements and a LOT of gas -- embarrassing amounts/frequency.

After a few weeks of eating more fiber and less fat, all those symptoms were gone -- though it wasn't an immediate change.