Pardee Hospital

FALL 2015

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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2 9 SHUTTERSTOCK w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m FA L L 2 015 S P I R I T O F W O M E N S H A R I N G H E A L T H S E C R E T S S h a r i n g Secrets HEALTH To send a health question to "Sharing Health Secrets," please e-mail plawrence@spiritofwomen.com or write to Sharing Health Secrets, Spirit of Women, 2424 North Federal Highway, Suite 100, Boca Raton, FL 33431. This is one rumor that's absolutely true, says Dr. Eugene Young, a gastroenterologist at Genesis HealthCare System, Zanesville, Ohio. "Right now Americans consume about 15 grams of fber per day, but that's not enough," says Dr. Young. "Our typical diets tend to be high in animal protein, we eat a lot of processed foods, and we don't eat enough whole grains." Women under 50 need 25 grams of fber per day, while men need 38 grams. Over age 50, those numbers drop to 21 and 30 grams, respectively, because adults over 50 should consume fewer calories overall. Children need about 15 to 20 grams per day, depending upon the number of calories they consume. A good general guideline is about 14 grams of fber per 1,000 calories, says Dr. Young. A: The real truth about dietary fber I keep hearing that Americans don't get enough fber. Is that true or just the latest diet hype? Q: A: Q: What's the best way for me to get more fber in my diet? Registered dietitian Rebecca White at Riverview Medical Center in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., recommends looking to food frst. "While there are fber supplements out there, you're better off getting your fber from food sources," she says. "Whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes and lentils are all good sources of fber. Sweet potatoes have a lot of fber. A lot of people use fax seeds, but nuts are also a good source of fber." A: Q: Anything else I should know about fber? Don't increase your intake too quickly, says Dr. Young. Doing so can cause a host of unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms. Instead, aim for a slight increase of about 5 grams per day until you reach the amount that is recommended for your age. A: Q: Why is fber so important, anyway? Fiber has many healthy benefts, says registered dietitian Gloris Xynos, education coordinator at St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfeld, Mo. "Fiber helps digestion by keeping your bowels moving regularly, which also staves off diverticular disease," says Xynos. "Beyond that, studies show that a diet rich in fber can reduce the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. It also helps lower bad cholesterol. Fiber may also help with weight loss because it provides a sense of fullness."

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