Let's Talk About Fiber!

Whenever you tell someone that you are vegan, the first question that you’ll often hear is, “Where do you get your protein?” We live in a culture that is obsessed with protein. And while protein is important, I think the question we should be asking everyone is, “Where do you get your fiber?”

Fiber is extremely important! It helps us feel full and rids our body of toxins and excess hormones. In addition, it can help lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, reduces risk of cancer, decreases heart disease, can support healthy digestion, and promotes weight loss. Without adequate fiber, hormones and chemicals get reabsorbed into our bloodstream (what we don’t eliminate, we accumulate!).

The horrifying truth is that most people do not eat enough fiber! The average American gets only 10-15 grams of fiber per day when we should be aiming for 40+ grams per day.

But where do we find fiber? I know…in that Metamucil bottle, right?! Wrong.

Fiber is only found in plants! I’ll repeat that. Fiber is only found in plants! And while a supplement may be recommended in some cases, we should strive to get it through whole foods: vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.

If you are just starting your plant based journey, please do not aim for 40+ grams of fiber on your first day. It can take a little while to get used to all of that amazingness and should be added in gradually to avoid excess gas and bloating.

What do you think? Are you getting enough fiber in your current diet? Please comment below to let us know.