Purpose: The high-fiber diet provides bulk in the diet and helps keep bowels regular.

Use: This diet can be used in relieving symptoms, in the prevention or treatment of diverticular disease, hemorrhoids, constipation, cancer of the colon, Crohn’s disease, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Studies have shown that a balanced diet containing different kinds of fiber can help regulate the bowels, aid in the prevention of heart disease and protect against a number of other health problems. Another way fiber contributes to good health is by helping to protect against cancer of the colon and rectum. Foods that contain fiber also tend to contain other cancer fighting nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium.

Dietary Guidelines

• Scan food labels for bread and cereal products listing whole grain or whole wheat as the first ingredient.
• Look for cooked and ready to eat cereals with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving.
• Eat raw fruits and vegetables; they have more fiber than cooked or canned foods, or juice. Dried fruits (especially dried figs) are also good sources of fiber.
• Increase fiber in meat dishes by adding pinto beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, bran, or oatmeal.
• Try adding 2-3 tsp. of unprocessed wheat bran to foods such as meatloaf, casseroles, homemade breads, muffins and other baked goods.
• Dairy foods provide little fiber. Increase fiber by adding fresh fruit, whole grain or bran cereals, nuts, or seeds to yogurt or cottage cheese.
• Chopping, peeling, cooking, pureeing, and processing may reduce fiber content
• Substitute oat bran for one third of all-purpose flour in baked goods recipes.
• Best to eat a variety of foods and not to rely on a fiber supplement
• Do it gradually—rapid fiber increase may result in gas, cramping, bloating, or diarrhea.
• Drink plenty of fluids—at least 8 cups every day.

HIGH FIBER DIET
BREADS & GRAINS 6-11 servings each day

• Whole grain breads, muffins, bagels, or pita bread
• Rye bread
• Whole wheat crackers or crisp breads
• Whole grain or bran cereals
• Oatmeal, oat bran, or grits
• Barley, dry
• Wheat germ
• Whole wheat pasta
• Brown rice

VEGETABLES 3-5 servings each day
All vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green beans, green pepper, onions, peas, potatoes with skin, snow peas, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini

FRUIT 2-4 servings each day
All fruits such as apple, banana, berries, grapefruit, nectarine, orange, peach, pear

MILK & DAIRY 2-3 servings each day
All

MEAT & MEAT SUBSTITUTES 2-3 servings or total of 6 oz daily

• All beans and peas such as garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, split peas, and pinto beans
• All nuts and seeds such as almonds, peanuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, peanut butter, walnuts, sesame and sunflower seeds
• All meat, poultry, fish, and eggs

If you are following a low fat diet, use nuts and seeds only in moderation.

FATS & SNACKS

• Popcorn, whole-wheat pretzels, baked tortilla corn chips or trail mix made with dried fruits, nuts, and seeds
• Cakes, breads, and cookies made with oatmeal, fruit, and nuts
• Bean dip