| KEY TERMS Cholesterol—A waxy substance made by the liver and also acquired through diet. High levels in the blood may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Constipation—Either having fewer than three bowel movements a week or having difficulty passing stools that are often hard, small, and dry. |
Description
Function
Benefits
Precautions
Risks
Research and general acceptance
Resources
What is the High-Fiber Diet?
A high-fiber diet is a diet in which the individual consumes foods that meet or exceed the dietary reference intake (DRI) for dietary fiber set by the United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences.
What are the Origins of the High-Fiber Diet?
No single person developed the high-fiber diet. Over the years, researchers have compared the rate of various chronic diseases in populations that had high-fiber diets with those that had lower dietary fiber intake. They found, for example, that native Africans who ate a high-fiber, plant-based diet are rarely bothered by constipation However, in industrialized countries where a lot of animal products are consumed, constipation is common. Observations like
Common diets based on eating a diet low in carbohydrates and an increased consumption of proteins and fats. .
this encouraged researchers to look at other roles that dietary fiber might play in health. From their findings came a consensus that a high-fiber diet is a healthy diet. This is reflected in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, which encourage people to eat more high-fiber foods such as whole grains.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR
- Is this diet good for my entire family?
- Should I be taking any nutritional supplements while I am on this diet?
- Does this diet pose any special risks for me that I should be aware of?
- Is it safe for me to become pregnantwhileon this diet?
The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets © 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
