Boost Fiber in Your Store

Fiber is an important nutrient for overall great health, but Americans still aren’t eating enough. Find out what you can do in your store here.

There are so many things to think about on a daily basis in terms of staying healthy and choosing foods that are good for the whole family; so helping customers navigate healthy foods is a great offering from retailers. An important component of a healthy diet is fiber. Dietary fiber is even the focus of two FDA-approved health claims appearing on foods labels: for the prevention of heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

Fiber is packed with a variety of health benefits; yet most Americans only consume about 10-15 grams per day, half of what experts recommend! A diet rich in fiber helps keep you regular, may lower the risk of colon and rectal cancer, and if you are watching your weight, can make you feel fuller longer, so you eat less. In addition, certain types of fiber help lower blood cholesterol levels and can even help to control the rise of blood sugar levels after a meal.

Fiber is found in plants, and although often a component of healthy foods, fiber is not actually considered a nutrient; because it alone does not contribute any calories, since it cannot be digested.

There are two forms of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and comes mostly from oats, legumes, and some fruits (berries have the most) and vegetables. These fibers are frequently used in low fat and nonfat foods to add texture. To lower cholesterol you need to eat a good amount of soluble fiber, such as 3 (1/2 cup) servings of oatmeal per day. Each serving contains 2 grams of total fiber and 0.9 gram of soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and is found in wheat bran, vegetables and whole grains. Insoluble fiber helps prevent constipation, adding bulk – and acts as a broom through your intestines.

It’s recommended to consume between 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily, but in order to avoid uneasiness in the digestive tract, consumers should be reminded to increase fiber intake gradually, and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and legumes are great sources of fiber as well as whole grains, and nuts and seeds (think almonds, chia, and flax seeds).

The Nutrition Facts panel on food labels can help consumers determine the fiber content in packaged foods. A product that is marked as being high in fiber has 5 grams or more per serving, and one that notes it is a good source of fiber has 2.5- 4.9 grams per serving. Look for ingredients such as bran, whole ground cornmeal, cracked wheat and oatmeal as well.  Keep in mind that whole grain doesn’t always mean high fiber – always check the nutrition facts.

Promote fiber rich foods! Display avocados, oranges, coconut, apples, blackberries, raspberries, pear, sweet potato, squash, broccoli, beets, greens, beans (all beans are high fiber including - red beans, adzuki beans, lentils, mung, split peas, etc.), amaranth, barley, oats, wheat bran, quinoa and flax seeds as great sources of fiber. Displays can be changed seasonally to include the high fiber seasonal produce, to keep consumers interested.