HIGH
FIBER DIET
USE:
A high fiber diet is used in the prevention
or treatment of a number of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and metabolic
diseases including diverticular disease, cancer of the colon, constipation,
irritable bowel disease, Crohn's disease, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes
mellitus, and obesity.
MODIFICATION
The high-fiber diet is a general diet with an
emphasis on fiber-rich food sources including fruits, legumes, vegetables, whole
grain breads, and cereal. To date
there is no Recommended Dietary Allowance for fiber. The American Dietetic Association recommends a daily dietary
fiber intake of 20-35 gram from a variety of sources, combined with a low-fat,
high carbohydrate diet.
Increased fiber intake should come from a variety of food sources rather than from only dietary fiber supplements to ensure adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Consumption of adequate amounts of liquid (at least eight 8-oz glasses per day) in conjunction with high-fiber intake is recommended. Fiber intake should be increased gradually to minimize potential adverse side effects such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, cramps, and diarrhea. These effects are usually temporary and subside within several days; however, if they persist, the fiber content of the diet should be reduced and the physician notified.
| Table 2 below offers a guide to meal planning for a high-fiber diet. | ||
| TABLE 2 GUIDE TO MEAL PLANNING FOR A HIGH-FIBER DIET | ||
| Food and Serving Size | Approximate Amount of Dietary Fiber | No. of Servings |
| Breads and starches | 2 | 5 (plus < 5 additional |
| Whole-grain or rye bread (1 slice) | servings of refined | |
| Whole-grain bagel or pita bread (1/2) | breads and starches) | |
| Oat bran muffin (1/2) | ||
| Whole-wheat crackers, crisp breads (4) | ||
| Whole-wheat pasta, corn, peas (1/2 cup) | ||
| Sweet potato (1/3 cup) | ||
| Potato with skin (1 small) | ||
| Popcorn, air-popped (3 cups) Not allowed in Diverticular Diets | ||
| Wheat germ (1-1/2 tbsp) | ||
| Cereals | 4 | 1 |
| Whole-grain or bran cereals, cold (1 oz.) | ||
| Oatmeal, oat bran, grits (1/3 cup dry) | ||
| Vegetables | 2 | 3 (plus < 2 additional |
| Cooked-asparagus, green beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, greens, onions, snow peas, spinach, squash, canned tomatoes (1/2 cup) | servings of other vegetables or juices) | |
| Raw-broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, celery, green peppers, zucchini (1 cup) | ||
| Fruits | 2.5 | 2 (plus < 2 additional |
| Apple, nectarine, orange, peach, banana (1 medium) | servings of other fruits | |
| Grapefruit, pear (1/2) | or juices) | |
| Berries (1 cup) | ||
| Beans | 5 | 1 |
| Garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, split peas, pinto beans, other beans and peas (1/2 cup cooked) | ||
| Nuts and seeds Not allowed in Diverticular Diets | 1 | Optional |
| Almonds (10 whole), walnuts (6 whole), peanut butter (1 tbsp), peanuts (15), sesame seed (1 tbsp), sunflower seeds (2 tbsp) | ||
| HIGH FIBER DIET PAGE 3 | ||
| EFFECTS OF FIBER ON DISEASE | ||
| The following review addresses the benefits of dietary fiber on various diseases or conditions. | ||
| Cancer of the colon | ||
| Fiber appears to alter large bowel functions by increasing fecal bulk and decreasing the time it takes for the stool to pass through the colon, which dilutes and reduces exposure time to carcinogens and protects against cancer of the colon and rectum. The National Cancer Institute recommends that Americans eat a diet high in fiber-rich foods to reduce the risk of large bowel cancer. | ||
| Constipation | ||
| Dietary fiber, especially water insoluble fiber, contributes to a properly functioning colon by increasing stool bulk and volume, which speeds up the time it takes for the stool to pass through the colon, and reduces the pressure in the colon. Increasing the insoluble fiber content of the diet with wheat bran increases stool weight and may help relieve constipation. | ||
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome | ||
| The therapeutic effect of fiber supplementation in persons suffering from irritable bowel syndrome varies depending on the symptoms. High fiber diets can be useful in managing IBS. Specifically, some dietary fibers are able to normalize the time it takes for food residues to pass through the body. Patients with IBS often experience bouts of loose, watery stools interchanged with dry, compacted stools. Soluble fiber has been shown to alleviate constipation and normalize the time it takes for the stool to pass through the colon. | ||
| Diverticular Disease | ||
| Diverticular disease is associated with consistent consumption of a low-fiber diet. Increasing the intake of insoluble fiber may alleviate the need to exert considerable pressure when passing stools. The maximum benefits of fiber are obtained only after several months of compliance. A high-fiber diet is not advised for complicated cases of diverticular disease involving intestinal bleeding, perforation, or abscess, and during acute diverticulitis. Please note that seeds, nuts, and popcorn should not be eaten with diverticular disease. | ||
| The following is a sample menu for the high fiber diet. | ||
| TABLE 4 SAMPLE MENU FOR HIGH-FIBER DIET | ||
| BREAKFAST | LUNCH | DINNER |
| Orange juice (1/2 cup) | Split pea soup (1 cup) | Green salad (3-1/2 oz) |
| Whole-grain cereal (3/4 cup) | Whole-wheat crackers (4) | Vinegar and oil dressing (1 tbsp) |
| Raisins (2 tbsp) | Lean beef patty (3 oz) | Broiled skinless chicken breast |
| Whole-wheat toast (2 slices) | Hamburger bun (1) | (3 oz) |
| Margarine (2 tsp) | Mustard (1 tbsp) | Herbed brown rice (1/2 cup) |
| Jelly or jam (1 tbsp) | Catsup (1 tbsp) | Steamed broccoli (1/2 cup) |
| 2% milk (1 cup) | Sliced tomato (2 oz) and lettuce | Whole-grain roll (1) |
| Coffee/tea | Fresh fruit salad (1/2 cup) | Margarine (2 tsp) |
| Bran muffin (1) | Low-fat frozen yogurt (1/2 cup) | |
| 2% milk (1 cup) | Medium pear (1) | |
| Coffee/tea | Coffee/tea | |