What is the general daily fiber recommendation for adults and why is fiber important?

• A. About 25 g/day for women and 38 g/day for men; fiber supports bowel health, glycemic control, and may reduce chronic disease risk.
• B. About 30 g/day for all adults; fiber only aids digestion
• C. About 10 g/day; fiber prevents dehydration
• D. About 50 g/day; fiber cures chronic diseases

Answer: (A)

Fiber provides important health benefits beyond just helping digestion. It adds bulk to stool to support regularity, helps slow the rise of glucose after meals to aid glycemic control, and is linked to reduced risk of some chronic diseases like heart disease and certain cancers. For adults, a practical daily target is about 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men, coming from a variety of plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Keeping fluids up is also important when increasing fiber. The other choices misstate the amount or oversimplify fiber’s role and benefits.