Dieters Fall Short on Meeting Recommended Daily Fiber Requirements

01/06/06 Between one quarter and one third of American adults are on a diet* and "forbidden foods" and second helpings might not be all they're missing out on, according to a recent analysis of popular diets.

Dieters are likely to experience a fiber shortfall. The typical daily meal plan analyzed for the Jenny Craig, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, The Zone, American Heart Association No-Fad Diet and The Perricone Prescription diets did not meet the American Dietetic Association's daily fiber requirement of 25 to 30 grams.

"These results are not surprising, since it is difficult to meet all nutritional needs when your body is in diet mode," said the nutrition expert who conducted the analysis, Leslie Bonci, M.P.H., R.D., L.D.N., director of Sports Medicine Nutrition for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and the Center for Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "As a dietitian, I want people to eat well, enjoy food and also get their nutrient needs met on a daily basis."

How Diets Stacked Up

   --  Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution  1 gram fiber per day
    --  The Perricone Prescription  11.7 grams fiber per day
    --  The Zone  17.7 grams fiber per day
    --  Jenny Craig  18 grams fiber per day
    --  American Heart Association No-Fad Diet  19.4 grams fiber per day

Fiber Facts

Government studies show that the typical American eats less than half of the fiber that they need -- only consuming about 12 to 15 grams of fiber per day. Soluble dietary fiber supports your healthy colon function by keeping food and nutrients moving through your system and by promoting regularity. Fiber also helps to maintain your intestinal lining, which helps your body to process substances properly before reaching your immune system.

"Don't shortchange yourself on fiber," said Bonci. "Because fiber does not digest, diets high in fiber help control weight by making you feel full longer after a meal, and less likely to snack."

New Options for Additional Fiber

Now there are two new convenient and great-tasting options to help Americans bridge the fiber gap -- new FiberChoice(R) Weight Management and FiberChoice(R) plus Calcium chewable tablets. FiberChoice Weight Management chewable tablets offer 4 grams of fiber and 200 mcg of chromium, as well as green tea. Chromax(R) (chromium picolinate) can help promote fat metabolism and weight control as part of a healthy diet and exercise program.**

FiberChoice plus Calcium chewable tablets offer the same 4 gram dose of fiber as the current FiberChoice products, plus 500 mg of calcium and 200 international units of Vitamin D. This product offers consumers a great tasting, easy way to get the fiber and calcium their bodies need in a convenient form. Plus, studies have shown that 8 grams per day of inulin, the fiber contained in all FiberChoice products, increases calcium absorption.**

Along with these new products, CNS is introducing new FiberChoice flavors. The new FiberChoice plus Calcium tablets come in assorted sugar free berry flavors (cherry, strawberry and wild berry). FiberChoice Weight Management tablets come in a sugar free strawberry flavor. These new flavors and product benefits will provide consumers additional variety within the fastest-growing segment of the bulk fiber category, chewable tablets.

FiberChoice Weight Management and plus Calcium chewable tablets come in a 90-count bottle for a suggested retail price of about $12.99-$14.99.