Ways to Get More Fiber Without Supplements

Fiber is absolutely essential for a healthy body. The problem is most of us don't get nearly enough. Most of what people eat today consists of high carbs, sugars, fat and sodium.

Fiber helps us to maintain a healthy weight and is necessary for a healthy digestive system. Fiber also makes us feel full, so that we don't overeat.

Since fiber is such an important part of human nutrition, how can we get more fiber?

There are many fiber supplements available such as Benefiber, Metamucil, and Citrucel. But many people don't like the taste of such products, and even though they're available in pill form, not everyone wants to take more supplements. What we need are natural ways to get more fiber without supplements.

Ways to get more fiber without supplements

Fiber is everywhere in natural foods. It abounds in fruits and vegetables and whole grains. One way to get more fiber without supplements is to include more of these natural foods in your diet.

A lot of people have a hard time eating lots of fruits and vegetables on their own, so the key is to find ways to prepare meals that you love that include fruits and vegetables.

For instance apples are high in fiber, so you might try making whole wheat French toast or pancakes (whole wheat is a good source of fiber), and instead of using syrup, use applesauce and cinnamon instead. It's delicious and a great way to add some fiber to your meal.

Bran is also a great source of fiber. Instead of buying those sweet fruity cereals, buy cereals that are made with bran such as Raisin Bran, Quaker Oatmeal Squares, or Kellogg's All Bran. Having a bowl of bran cereal each morning is a great way to get more fiber without supplements.

In addition to eating bran cereal you could also add blueberries, bananas, strawberries or other fruits and berries for a delicious way to increase the amount of fiber.

If you love pasta, instead of using regular pasta, switch to whole wheat pasta. And if you love rice, try cooking with whole grain brown rice instead of white rice. The whole grain versions taste just as good if not better and will add more fiber to your diet.

Other ways to get more fiber without supplements

Beans are high in fiber. Try to incorporate more beans into your meals. Black beans, lima beans, and pinto beans are delicious and are great sources of fiber. Try having burritos wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla for dinner to get more fiber. You can also have beans as a side dish.

Instead of snacking on chips, have peanuts or almonds for a snack. They're high in fiber and omega 3's which are also great for us. You can also try Triscuits instead of chips for a great tasting snack that will help you get more fiber.

Have more vegetables with your meals. Serve steamed broccoli, carrots, green beans, peas, cauliflower, or corn with dinner. Or have them in a salad. You can also make pitas with them, and the whole wheat pita bread is also a good source of fiber.

One more really great way to get more fiber without supplements is flax seed mill. Keep it in the freezer to keep it fresh and sprinkle it over your food. Use 1-2 TBS and it won't affect the flavor of your food. Flax seed is very high in fiber and is a great way to get more fiber without supplements.