3 Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Fiber

1. Occasional constipation^†

Extended trips to the bathroom and feeling backed up – these uncomfortable signs may be your body’s way of telling you to add more fiber to your diet. Since fiber serves as bulk for your stools, it can regulate how often you have a bowel movement and general digestive health.^†† In fact, a recent meta-analysis pooled data from several fiber studies and found that including fiber in your diet regularly helps with stool frequency (i.e., the number of times you pass stool daily).^††4

On the other hand, a lack of fiber in your diet could cause the opposite problem – occasional diarrhea. In the absence of fiber, food can move through your gastrointestinal tract much quicker, causing loose stools.^††5

These stark contrasts are possible because there are two varieties of fiber. First, there’s insoluble fiber, which acts like a broom, sweeping through your bowels to get everything out and keep things moving at a manageable pace. Then there’s soluble fiber, which absorbs water and forms a gel-like substance, helping you pass smooth and consistent stools.^††6

2. Difficulty managing hunger

We’ve all been there – you eat a complete meal and then a short while after, you’re hungry all over again. This could be tied to your meal’s fiber content. What makes fiber critical to regulating your digestive system also impacts your hunger and ability to feel satisfied after meals. It’s largely because fiber adds bulk and thick consistency to slow down the rate at which food passes through your body, so your stomach takes its time to clear out.

An empty stomach generates hunger signals that let your brain know that it’s time to eat again. If food passes through the stomach too quickly, your hunger sets in sooner and more frequently.^*7

Fiber does not just simply slow down the stomach’s digestion, the thickness from soluble fibers may also extend food’s passage through the intestine, allowing better absorption of nutrients and further taking advantage of the processes that help you feel satisfied after eating.⁷

3. Difficulty managing bodyweight

While eating a well-balanced diet and regular physical activity are the best tools to maintain a healthy bodyweight, a low fiber intake could throw a wrench into your healthy lifestyle and stand in the way of achieving your goals.

Without fiber, food rushes through your stomach, increases your hunger and puts temptation in the way of moderation. You may find yourself reaching for a snack earlier in the day or later at night, or even doubling up on serving sizes. There may be some benefit to adding a prebiotic fiber supplement, such as Benefiber Healthy Shape, which can help you feel fuller longer.^‡

There’s also evidence that adding fiber to your diet reduces the amount of energy, or calories, per unit weight of food, which is also known as the food’s energy density.⁷ It makes sense, since naturally-occuring fiber in fruits and vegetables lowers the foods’ energy densities. Low energy density is another one of fiber’s features that helps you feel more satisfied after a meal, helping you to better manage your eating habits.⁷

The takeaway

Fiber’s importance to digestion makes it a necessary nutrient not just to GI function, but also to overall health and wellness. Try your best to get all the fiber you need from food, but if you need some extra help, supplements like Benefiber can help you supplement your recommended daily fiber intake.

Once you incorporate a balanced eating plan rich in fiber, not only will your digestive system thank you, you’ll feel good about nourishing your whole body and working towards better health.^*

^†Benefiber Advanced Digestive Health helps relieve occasional constipation.

^††Applies to fiber derived from food, not supplements

^‡Clinical studies show benefits with regular use.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Use as directed.