T HE IMPORTANCE OF FIBER : SHOULD WE SUPPLEMENT ? Nikita Wells HW499: Bachelor's Capstone in Health and Wellness Prof: Kristin Henningsen

W HY F RUITS AND V EGETABLES AFFECT FIBER INTAKE Helps maintain a normal body weight Keeps the body energized Helps keep the body full, which can lead to weight loss over time (Drewnowski, Specter, 2004, para 11) It gives the body vitamins, minerals, water and fiber

H OW CAN PREVENTION SERVICES HELP A MERICA WITH FIBER INTAKE They assist in giving dietary recommendations It has shown that when 5 or more fruits and vegetables are incorporated into your daily diet it reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.

DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS, 2010 When wanting to reduce weight the guide lines want you to chose nutrient dense foods that are low in calories (fruits and vegetables) (Dietary guidelines, 2010) “Increase fruit and vegetable intake” (Dietary guidelines, 2010) Eat a wide variety of vegetables (Dietary guidelines, 2010) The Dietary guidelines clearly states over and over again about how important fresh fruits and vegetables are in a healthy diet.

L ETS HELP MEET THE NEED When income increases so does the quality of food choice (Drewnowski, Specter, 2004, para 44) Fruits and vegetables will get ate if more people had a way to afford them The food guideline expects all Americans to eat a good amount of fruits and vegetables daily for health

P OVERTY EQUALS OBESITY The highest obesity rates were associated with the lowest incomes and low educational levels (Drewnowski, Specter, 2004, para 5) When income is limited most get foods that will not spoil. The foods that have been processed or preserved has higher calories, which can lead to overconsumption and constipation

I F THE SUBSIDY WAS IN PLACE Over time people would lose weight Less spending on hospital bills, it was $147 billion per year in 2008 (Finkelstein, Trogdon, Cohen, Dietz, 2009, para 3) Insurance rates will go down Better moods of people Active children Less money spent on symptoms and more on prevention The next generation will have a better start

U SING F IBER S UPPLEMENTS Can actually cause constipation Too much too soon Dependent on it Not learn how to properly eat Shortcut Missing nutrients Not a great quality

A DVERTISING This is one of the great ways to get the word out to the public. Everyone knows there is a epidemic of obesity amongst the U.S. Lets use the same advisement to let America know how to get healthy and what resources the federal government has to offer. Advertisements need to be seen in magazines, newspapers, billboard, hospitals, public offices, work and school

R EFERENCES Drewnowski, A. & Specter, S.E. (2004, January). Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79 (1), Retrieved from U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, December. 7th Edition. Retrieved from ines/2010/PolicyDoc/PolicyDoc.pdf ines/2010/PolicyDoc/PolicyDoc.pdf Finkelstein, E.A., Trogdon, J.G., Cohen, J.W. & Dietz, W. (2009, July). Annual medical spending attributable to obesity: Payer-and service-specific estimates. Health Affairs, 25 (5), w822-w831. Retrieved from /content/28 /5/w822.full

C ONT. R EFERENCES : Stewart, M., Schroeder N.,(2013), Dietary treatments for childhood constipation: e ffi cacy of dietary fiber and whole grains, Nutrition Reviews® Vol. 71(2):98–109, retrieved from Health Source: Consumer database.