March 2, 2022
Start Your Day Off Strong: Breakfast Foods with Fiber
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Get ready to dive into the fiber fun zone! Research is waving the banner for a diet loaded with plant fibers, showing off their impressive skills like lowering cholesterol, assisting in weight loss, and being the superheroes for your liver, constipation, and hemorrhoids.
Shockingly, the average American is only getting 10 to 15 grams of total fiber per day, barely hitting half of the daily fiber goal. The USDA recommends a whopping 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men each day. But fear not! To spice up your fiber game and hit those goals with a smile, start your day with a fiber-packed breakfast extravaganza!
Table of contents
Soluble vs Insoluble
Fiber has been traditionally classified based on its solubility or insolubility. Water-soluble fibers can dissolve in hot water, whereas insoluble fibers do not dissolve in hot water. The majority of plant foods are soluble. Foods that are rich in water-soluble fibers include legumes, oats, barley, rye, chia seeds, flaxseeds, most fruits, and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, artichokes, and onions. Foods that are rich in insoluble fiber include whole grains, legumes, nuts, bran, seeds, cauliflower, zucchini, celery, and green beans. Generally speaking, most whole grain products and vegetables contain more insoluble fibers. Fruits tend to be higher in soluble fibers, which are found on the skin and pulp.
The soluble/insoluble classification for fiber has been used to observe health outcomes. For example, soluble fiber was thought to slow down digestion, which helps with blood sugar regulation and fat absorption. Insoluble fiber was thought to speed up digestion and promote fecal bulk and bowel movements. However, current research is now shifting away from this classification and more toward viscosity and gel formation.
Revolutionizing Fiber Classification: Viscosity and Gel Formation
Viscosity is related to fiber’s ability to hold water and form a gel within the digestive tract. While most fibers are able to hold water, not all form a thick, jelly-like mass. Foods rich in viscous gel-forming fibers include asparagus, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, turnips, apricots, mangoes, oranges, legumes, barley and oat bran.
Consuming foods rich in these gel-forming fibers can help slow down digestion, increase satiety (feelings of fullness), and reduce lipid (such as cholesterol) and glucose absorption.
Fiber Foods’ Fermentation Potential
Fiber that is undigested in the small intestine is then brought to the colon, where it is fermented by bacteria. Most insoluble fibers are not fermented. Fibers that are not fermented help increase fecal mass, adding in constipation relief. Fermentable fibers include most soluble fibers, which provide energy and nutrients for healthy bacteria in the colon to grow.
Some fermentable fibers function as prebiotics in the colon. Prebiotics are undigested substances that provide healthy bacterial growth in the colon. Probiotic supplements and foods feed off these probiotics, which further enhance healthy gut flora.
Health Benefits of Fiber
Several studies have looked at the relationship between fiber intake and diseases. Positive outcomes have been reported in four major areas; these include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight management, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Fiber for Weight Management
A large clinical trial was performed using 345 overweight or obese adults to see if fiber intake predicts weight loss and dietary adherence. Researchers found that dietary fiber intake was strongly associated with adherence to a calorie-restricted diet and promoted significant weight loss amongst the participants.
Dietary Fiber for Heart Disease Prevention
A literary review of dietary fiber interventions for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis found that increasing one’s daily fiber intake can help protect the heart. In addition, findings concluded that a diet rich in fiber significantly lowers total and LDL cholesterol levels. Furthermore, for those taking cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), dietary fiber has been shown to reduce side effects and improve drug tolerability.
Dietary Fiber for Gastrointestinal Disorders
Researchers have examined the current evidence for dietary fiber’s use in the management of gastrointestinal disorders. Fiber’s ability to improve micronutrient availability, gut transit time, stool formation and microbial health directly impacts gastrointestinal health. Further research on the relationship between different types of dietary fibers for the management of gastrointestinal disorders looks promising.
Fiber for Diabetes
In a meta analysis of cohort studies, researchers examined the associations of a high dietary fiber intake with a significant reduction of developing type 2 diabetes. Fermentable (mostly soluble) fibers, in particular, have been shown to improve insulin resistance by increasing the gut microbiota. In addition, viscous, gel-forming fibers delay the absorption of dietary carbohydrates, thereby lowering the glucose response post-meals.
Foods High in Fiber
Try incorporating more of these foods into your breakfasts!
Christa is a media dietitian and nutrition consultant in the New York City area. She works with various brands and has been featured in dozens of outlets such as Women’s Health, EatingWell, and Peoples Magazine as a nutrition expert. Being a fact checker for EatingWell Magazine and a Medical Reviewer for Nourish, she brings her extensive experience within the field to provide compassionate, inclusive care using science for intimate and personalized messaging.
Christa brings warm laughter, joy, and medical expertise to any conversation allowing for honest science-based discussions with authenticity at their core.
In her private practice, she works with men and women suffering from emotional traumas that cause binge eating disorders exacerbating their type 2 diabetes, PCOS and insulin resistance.