The Best Fiber Foods for Vegetarians

The Best Fiber Foods for Vegetarians
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The American Heart Association recommends diets high in soluble fiber if you are aiming to lower your cholesterol. Vegetarians who eat well-planned meals with high-fiber vegetables and whole grains have diets that are naturally high in fiber. Vegetarians who do not eat balanced meals and eat refined carbohydrates instead of vegetables, lack good sources of fiber in their diet. The Mayo Clinic suggests that women eat 21 to 25g of fiber daily, and men should eat 30 to 38g daily.

Flaxseed

The foods with the highest amount of fiber are flaxseed. According to the University of Illinois, flaxseed offers 25 to 38g of fiber. It is ideal for vegetarians because it is high in protein and omega-3 oils to replace fish oils, which are healthy in any diet. Flaxseed is a small seed approximately the size of a sesame seed, brown or yellow and hard to chew. Because it is more difficult for your body to digest its nutrients when it is whole, it is usually ground and used as flour or as a meal topper to add a nutty flavor to foods. You can easily grind them with a coffee grinder. Flaxseed is also high in potassium and folic acid. The university also states that flaxseeds contain lignans and, flavonoids, phenolic acids that are anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are high in fiber and important for a vegetarian's protein intake. Vegetarians tend to eat whole grains and beans -- both of which are high in fiber -- to complement their proteins, so that their bodies process them as complete proteins. Whole-grain pasta and barley can contain up to almost 6g of fiber per cooked cup, according to the USDA.

Fruits

If you eat 1 cup of raspberries, you will be consuming 8g of your daily recommended fiber intake, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you eat one medium pear with its skin, you will eat 5.5g of fiber. The third most fibrous fruit is an apple. If you eat one medium-sized apple with its skin, you will have about 4.4g of fiber.

Vegetables

The Mayo Clinic states that the most fibrous vegetables are artichokes, peas and broccoli. One medium-sized, steamed artichoke heart can provide you with about 10g of fiber. If you eat 1 cup of cooked peas, you will gain 8.8g of fiber, and if you eat 1 cup of boiled broccoli, you will intake 5.1g of fiber.

References

Article reviewed by Eric Lochridge Last updated on: Sep 27, 2010

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