Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Fiber in the Diet
The current American diet averages only about 10 grams of dietary fiber, whereas intakes of 25 to 40 grams are linked to a reduced risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and other intestinal disorders.
An ideal amount of fiber can be obtained daily from the following foods:
- Six servings of whole grain breads and cereals (one serving = one slice of bread, 1/2 cup cooked pasta, rice, or cereal, or 1 cup high-fiber cold cereal)
- Four to nine servings of fresh fruits and vegetables (one serving = one piece of fruit, 1 cup raw vegetables, or 1/2 cup cooked vegetables)
- One serving of dried beans (one serving = 1/2 cup)
Dietary fiber in selected foods
The following lists the dietary fiber in selected foods. Vegetables, fruits, breads, crackers, cereals, and nuts are listed separately.
| Selected foods | Amount | Dietary Fiber (grams) |
|---|---|---|
| Milk and milk products | 0 | |
| Meats | 0 | |
| Eggs | 0 | |
| Beans, baked | 1/2 cup | 11.0 |
| Chili with beans | 1/2 cup | 8.6 |
| Fats, mayonnaise, margarine, dressings, etc. | 0 | |
| Popcorn | 1 cup | 0.4 |
Dietary fiber in vegetables
| Vegetable | Amount | Dietary Fiber (grams) |
|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | 4 medium spears | 0.9 |
| Avocado | 1/2 | 2.2 |
| Beets, boiled | 1/2 cup | 2.1 |
| Broccoli | 1/2 cup | 3.2 |
| Brussels sprouts | 1/2 cup | 2.3 |
| Carrots, boiled | 1/2 cup | 2.3 |
| Carrots, raw | 1 | 2.3 |
| Celery, raw | 1 stalk | 0.7 |
| Corn, off the cob | 1/3 cup | 3.1 |
| Corn, on the cob | 1 ear | 5.9 |
| Eggplant, peeled and cooked | 1/2 cup | 2.5 |
| Lettuce | 6 medium leaves | 0.7 |
| Mushrooms, raw | 1/2 cup | 0.7 |
| Peas, boiled | 1/2 cup | 4.2 |
| Potato, baked with skin | 1 medium | 3.0 |
| Potato, boiled and peeled | 1 medium | 2.7 |
| Potato, French-fried | 10 pieces | 1.6 |
| Potato, mashed, with milk | 1/2 cup | 0.9 |
| Spinach, cooked | 1/2 cup | 5.7 |
| Sweet potato, cooked | 1.5 - 2 inches | 3.5 |
| Tomato, raw | 1 medium | 2.0 |
| Tomato juice | 1/2 cup | 0 |
| Tomato sauce | 1/2 cup | 2.6 |
Dietary fiber in fruits
| Fruits | Amount | Dietary Fiber (grams) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple, with peel | 1 medium | 3.3 |
| Apple juice | 0 | |
| Apple sauce | 1/2 cup | 2.6 |
| Apricots | 2 medium | 1.6 |
| Banana | 1/2 medium | 1.6 |
| Cantaloupe | 1/4 | 1.6 |
| Dates, dried | 5 | 3.1 |
| Fig, dried | 1 medium | 2.4 |
| Grapefruit, fresh | 1/2 | 0.6 |
| Grapes, seedless | 12 | 0.3 |
| Nectarine | 1 medium | 3.0 |
| Orange | 1 small | 2.4 |
| Peach, fresh | 1 medium | 1.4 |
| Pear, fresh | 1 medium | 2.6 |
| Pineapple, fresh | 1/2 cup | 0.9 |
| Prunes, uncooked | 2 medium | 2.0 |
| Raisins | 2 tablespoons | 1.2 |
| Raspberries | 1/2 cup | 4.6 |
| Strawberries | 1/2 cup | 1.7 |
Dietary fiber in breads and crackers
| Bread / Cracker | Amount | Dietary Fiber (grams) |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked wheat bread | 1 slice | 2.1 |
| Hot dog bun | 1 | 1.2 |
| Hamburger bun | 1 | 1.2 |
| Pumpernickel bread | 1 slice | 1.2 |
| Raisin bread | 1 slice | 0.4 |
| Rye bread | 1 slice | 1.2 |
| White bread | 1 slice | 0.8 |
| Whole wheat bread | 1 slice | 2.1 |
| Rye crackers | 3 (3 1/2 inch) | 2.3 |
| Saltine crackers | 4 squares | 0 |
Dietary fiber in packaged cereals
| Cereal | Amount | Dietary Fiber (grams) |
|---|---|---|
| All-Bran | 1/3 cup | 9.0 |
| Bran Buds | 1/3 cup | 8.0 |
| Crackling Bran | 1/3 cup | 4.0 |
| Raisin Bran | 1/3 cup | 4.0 |
Dietary fiber in nuts
| Nuts | Amount | Dietary Fiber (grams) |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut butter | 2 tablespoons | 2.4 |
| Peanuts, roasted | 1/4 cup | 2.9 |
| Spanish peanuts | 10 | 0.7 |
| Walnuts, chopped | 1/4 cup | 1.6 |
Last Review: 03-01-2011
Copyright © 2011 Aisle7. All rights reserved. www.Aisle7.net
Learn more about Aisle7, the company.
Information expires June 2011.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
from
- 9 nastiest things in your supermarket
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
The iVillage Network