Question:
Do I need fiber?

I think I'm getting about 8g of fiber a day (results per fitday). Is this enough? DO I need more? If so how can I get this without extra calories and more yukky pills? Pre op I ate bread so never worried about it. Now I rarely eat bread.    — Sandy A. (posted on October 17, 2003)

October 17, 2003
I'm was having the same problem. I have had trouble with constipation, so my dietician said I needed 20 grams per day. If you like protein bars, the Atkins bar has 10 grams per bar, although the fat grams are a little high.ALso there is a powder called Benefiber that you can add to any drink or soft foods that doesnt change the taste or texture. You can add 2 tbsp to a drink ,pudding, cereal, etc for 6 grams of fiber. Do this several times a day and you are almost up there. ALso, chick peas (garbanzos) and most other legumes are really high in protein and fiber. Hope this helps.
   — Denise B.

October 17, 2003
Boy do you ever need more fiber - recommended for adults is 20 to 35 grams every day for optimum bowel health. We don't digest fiber, however bacteria in our bowels thrive on it. That's the good bacteria. If we don't feed it, it dies and then we have LOTS of trouble :>) Simplified but that's the jist of it. Fresh Flaxseed (ground up - not the oil) is great for good bowel health as well as adding essential fatty acids that your body doesn't produce on its own. 2 tablespoons a day (seed measurement before grinding) is the optimum daily dosage for adults (1 tablespoon for a child between 50 and 110 pounds) and is very good sprinkled in yogurt, cottage cheese, salads, meatloaf, tuna salads, etc. Doesn't add calories to your diet :>)
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 17, 2003
The way that I keep my numbers up on fiber is to eat about 1 oz of sunflower seeds in the shell, I remove the shells and just eat the inside seed, works like a charm, I have a BM daily and my fiber numbers are good on fitday.com. The best benefit, is I love them. It is a good snack, high in salt, if you are watching your salt intake.
   — cindy

October 17, 2003
Hi there. Yes, you need more fiber!!! Something that works very well for me is Benefiber. I carry around a 20 oz water bottle all day, and so every time I fill up the bottle I dump in approx. 2 tablespoons of Benefiber (for 6g fiber) and shake it up. It has no taste, and it doesn't change the texture or consistency of whatever it's mixed with. You can find it in drug stores underneath the laxatives--it's in a green bottle.
   — Judy M.

October 18, 2003
Yes, you need fiber. My surgeon suggest eating a few frosted mini wheats, triscuits or, and this is what he told me to eat every day - a small bowl of grape nuts soaked in grape juice. I have diverticulosis and it would be very bad for be to get constipated so he insists that I have the cereal and the grape juice is a natural laxative. It actually tastes pretty good. Also, he told me to eat two or three prunes (not prune juice) or dried apricots every evening.
   — Patty_Butler