(NAPSA)—It may sound like a scientific breakthrough, but something that can help prevent heart disease, obesity and possibly cancer can easily be found in many of the foods already in your grocery store. It’s dietary fiber; certain substances that are not digested by the body. WhereTo FindIt me You can find fiber in fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Fiber is also added to many foods and beverages, including cereal, granola bars, yogurt, and bakery products. Many studies have demonstrated the samebenefits from added fiber as the naturally occurring kind. Look for dietary fibers listed in the ingredients on food packages. What They Do These foods help your health by reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease, lowering cholesterol levels, maintaining normal blood sugar levels after eating, increasing satiety, helping maintain normal blood pressure, protecting against certain cancers and sup- porting the digestive system. How Much Do You Need? When you shopfor food, look to the label to see which products have the fiber that’s so important to your health. sume approximately 28 grams of fiber. Most adult women should consumeat least 25 gramsoffiber a day; men should consume at least 38 gramsa day. Nevertheless, according to U.S. Dietary Guidelines, most Americans consume only half the amountof dietary fiber they need on a daily basis. How To TakeIt If you’ve not been getting your recommended dietary fibers, you may want to increase your intake shown on nutrition fact panels is currently 25 grams, the Institute of Medicine recommends consuming 14 grams of fiber daily for every 1,000 calories consumed. gradually to get your digestive system used to it. Doctors believe it’s best to eat a variety of types of dietary fiber every day, sinceall types of fiber are needed for the body to function well. WhoCanTell You More? calorie daily diet, you should con- fiber, visit www.fiberfacts.org. While the Daily Value for fiber That meansfor an average 2,000- For further information on
