High Fiber Diet
Keeping you healthy is our main aim here at The GI Center. As your physicians, it is our aim to provide the best guidance of diet as well as medicine. In doing so, also please remember that it is not possible to mention each and every food component that is available in this world. Our instructions are designed to serve as guidance only. If you have any specific question regarding anything not fully addressed here, please call your physician.
Purpose: Dietary fiber is plant material, which is resistant to digestion by the gastrointestinal tract. Cooking fruits and vegetables only softens and breaks down the texture of food; it does not reduce the fiber content. A high-fiber diet is indicated for the treatment of constipation and diverticulosis. A lack of fiber in the diet creates harder stools that are more difficult to move through the colon. Increasing fiber and fluids in the diet creates softer stools, which are easily excreted and keeps the bowel movements regular.
| Food Group | Foods in High Fiber | Foods in Low Fiber |
| Breakfast Cereals | 1 serving daily | Sugar-coated cereals, refined |
| Any whole grain ready-to-eat cereal such as all bran, bran flakes, bran buds, raisin bran or shredded wheat. | Dry cereals and refined cooked cereals, such as cream of wheat or cream of rice. | |
| Corn bran and whole grain cooked cereals such as oatmeal and wheatena. | ||
| Breads and Flours | 3 servings daily | Whole wheat bread made from refined flour with caramel added for color; white and rye bread; cookies, pies, cakes, pastries and other products made from refined flour. |
| Whole wheat bread with wheat bran added, raisin bran, bread or pumpernickel bread, whole wheat or bran muffins, specialty high fiber breads. | ||
| Fruits | 2 servings daily | Clear fruits juices (apples, grape, and cranberry) |
| Dried and stewed prunes, apricots and raisins, fresh fruits, especially apples, plums, peaches, pears, and grapes eaten with skins. | ||
| All fruits. | ||
| Fruit juice containing pulp. | ||
| Vegetables | 2 servings daily | |
| Raw vegetable, potatoes with skins, dried beans, peas and lentils, soybeans. | ||
| Cooked and canned vegetables, and vegetables juices. | ||
| Supplements | Unprocessed Bran: 2-3 teaspoons per day | |
| Increased as tolerated or until desired effects are obtained. | ||
| Cellulose powders: 4 tbsp per day to resolve constipation gradually. Reduce to 2 tbsp per day for maintenance. | ||
| High fiber crackers. |
