Eating a high-fiber diet does more than promote digestive well-being; it's also good for your heart, an expert says.
Dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans "has
been shown in research to help lower cholesterol," Jody Gilchrist, a
nurse practitioner at the Heart and Vascular Clinic at the University of
Alabama, Birmingham.
"Most nutrition experts say that a person needs at least 25 grams of fiber a day as part of a balanced diet," Gilchrist said. "The American Heart Association recommends that a good rule of thumb is 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed, and at least 10 grams should come from soluble fiber."
Soluble fiber makes you feel full quickly, which helps control how
much you eat. Research has shown that soluble fiber also helps lower
"bad" LDL cholesterol by interfering with how the body absorbs
cholesterol from foods.
