5 Inexpensive Sources of Dietary Fiber

Sources of Fiber for the Person on a Budget

Fiber is an important nutrient essential in digestion. Fiber can reduce your risk for colon cancer, heart disease, lower cholesterol, and regulate your bowel functioning (www.americanheart.org). Increased fiber intake can even help you lose weight, as fiber makes you feel full longer. The  American Heart Association, along with other organizations has recommended that adults consume between 25-30 grams of fiber each day. The average American gets about 15 grams of fiber per day (www.americanheart.org).

With the benefits of fiber well-established, how can a person go about adding fiber into their diet? There are countless articles and books out there listing fiber sources. Many of these food items can be expensive, though. For the person or family on a tight budget, a significant increase in grocery bills is just not an option. There are ways to add fiber to your diet without breaking the bank. Here are the 5 top inexpensive fiber sources:

1. Oats. Not the sugary, processed instant varieties of oatmeal, but regular rolled oats that are commonly sold in the cardboard cylindrical container (not to name any brands...). Oatmeal has 3 grams of fiber per serving. For under $1.00, oats are one of the most affordable fiber sources out there.

Read the rest of this article