30 Best Foods With Fiber

Fiber can lower blood sugar, cut cholesterol, and may even play a role in preventing colon cancer and help you avoid hemorrhoids. If it were a drug, the world would be clamoring for it.

But few people are getting enough.

Women should get about 25 grams a day and men at least 35 to 40, but the average person gets just 15 grams a day. Eating fiber-rich whole foods—not foods that tout "added fiber"—is the best way to increase your fiber intake, Carolyn Brown, RD, a nutritionist at Foodtrainers, in New York City, tells Health.

Here is a list of high-fiber foods—and tasty recipes that contain them.

We're most familiar with the sunny, yellow version, but corn comes in a rainbow of colors—from pink to blue to black—each with its own special combination of antioxidant nutrients.

A single ear of corn, which is about a half cup of corn kernels, contains 2 grams of fiber. Popcorn is also a terrific and low-calorie fiber source, with about 3.5 grams of fiber per three-cup serving.

Try this recipe: Fresh Corn With Avocado, Scallions, and Spiced Scallops

In addition to being rich in fiber, protein, and iron, white beans are one of the best nutritional sources of potassium. One cup will cover 25% of your daily requirement for this hypertension-fighting nutrient.

Beans get a bad rap when it comes to gas, but the key is to amp up your fiber intake gradually, Brown says. "If you only eat (low-fiber) foods right now, don't suddenly switch to eating 40 grams of fiber a day, because that will cause a lot of stress to the digestive system."

Try this recipe: Chicken-and-White-Bean Soup With Greens

Black beans contain 15 grams of fiber per cup, and about 15 grams of protein. Their dark, rich color signals a high content of flavonoids, plant pigments that are powerful antioxidants. As you add beans and other high-fiber foods to your diet, be sure to drink more water, too, Brown says.

Try this recipe: Mexican Black-Bean-and-Spinach Pizza

The key ingredient in red beans and rice, kidney beans are popular in northern India as well as New Orleans. Like their cousins—pretty much all of the beans we eat share the Latin name Phaseolus vulgaris, or "common bean"—they're rich in fiber, protein, and iron.

Try this recipe: Classic Jamaican Rice and Peas

The creamy flesh of the avocado is a great fiber source; a two-tablespoon serving of avocado has about 2 grams of fiber and an entire fruit contains around 10 grams. Avocados are also an excellent source of mono- and polyunsaturated fats—the "good" kind that can help lower cholesterol and reduce heart-disease risk.

Try this recipe: Grapefruit-Avocado Salad

Related video: Avocado Toast, 4 Ways  

Swapping out traditional pasta for the whole wheat kind is a great way to introduce more fiber to your diet. "Really small changes will make a difference," Brown says.

But whole-wheat pasta can be an acquired taste for those who are used to the white version. Grocery stores are likely to have whole-wheat pasta in several brands and shapes; you may want to try a few types to find the one with the taste and texture combination you like best.

Try this recipe: Whole-Wheat Pasta Shells With Spicy Tomato Pesto and Winter Greens

If you've been strictly a white-rice eater, the chewier texture and nuttier taste of brown rice can take some getting used to—but it's worth the effort. Every cup contains 3.5 grams of fiber.

In fact, Harvard researchers found that although eating five or more servings of white rice a week increased type 2 diabetes risk by 17%, adding a couple servings of brown rice per week decreased risk by 11%.

Try this recipe: Wild Salmon and Brown Rice Bowl

Long popular in East Asian cuisine, edamame are immature soybeans boiled in the pod. You can pop them out of the pod into your mouth, or mix them into a tasty dip. A half-cup serving of edamame can contain up to 11 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber, depending on the brand.

Try this recipe: Edamame Guacamole With Chile-Dusted Pita Chips

White bread and other refined grains are milled, meaning the outer coating of the grain (bran) has been removed, along with the germ, a tiny part of the kernel that serves as the seed's "embryo." Whole wheat retains these nutrient- and fiber-rich elements, so switching from white to whole wheat is a smart nutritional move.

"Making it your go-to will make a big difference in terms of the number of grams of fiber you're getting," says Brown.

Try this recipe: CarbLovers Club Sandwich

This tiny member of the legume family is super rich in fiber, with 15.6 grams per cup. Cultivated since Neolithic times, lentils are also a great source of protein, B vitamins, iron, and other minerals.

Try this recipe: Smoked Cheddar and Lentil Burgers

As with most fruits with edible skins, pears are most nutritious and fiber-rich when their skins are left intact. "Keeping the skin on is really important for fiber," Brown says. A medium-size unpeeled pear contains about 5.5 grams of fiber.

Try this recipe: Warm Pear With Cinnamon Ricotta

A single boiled artichoke contains 10.3 grams of fiber, and you'll get 7.2 grams of fiber from a half cup of artichoke hearts. Artichokes also are rich in silymarin, an antioxidant that may improve liver health, according to a 2020 Advances in Therapy study.

Try this recipe: Roasted-Tomato-and-Artichoke Flatbread Pizza

Oats contain beta-glucan, a special type of fiber that has particularly powerful cholesterol-lowering effects, and may also boost immune-system function.

In addition, oats feature a good mix of soluble fiber (the type that lowers blood cholesterol) and insoluble fiber (which helps keep your digestion running smoothly).

Try this recipe: Swiss Fruit-and-Yogurt Muesli

Whether they're ruby-red or blue-black, raspberries are nutrition superstars. In addition to being extra-rich in fiber, one cup will give you about a third of your daily fiber needs. They're also chock-full of powerful antioxidants.

When raspberries aren't in season, buying them frozen is easier on your wallet. Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries are great options for meeting your daily fiber needs, too.

Try this recipe: Fresh Berries With Maple Cream

The humble pea, eaten straight out of the pod, bought frozen or cooked, or dried and made into split-pea soup, is a tasty, versatile, and inexpensive fiber source. One cup of split peas boasts 16.3 grams of fiber, and a cup of frozen peas contains a not-too-shabby 8.8 grams after cooking.

Try this recipe: Campanelle With Summer Vegetables

By now we all know that broccoli is very good for you. A member of the cruciferous vegetable family and known for its cancer-preventing properties, this veggie also contains a respectable amount of fiber: You'll get about 5.1 grams in a cup of boiled broccoli.

Try this recipe: Parmesan Broccoli With Cherry Tomatoes

When you're talking about apples, the skin's the thing—you've got to leave it on or you'll be missing out on fiber and a host of beneficial phytochemicals.

"Once you take the skin off, you take off a lot of the good stuff that's in there," Brown says. A single regular-size apple contains about 4.4 grams of fiber.

Try this recipe: Apple and Celery Root Salad

Almonds, and pretty much every other edible nut and seed you can think of—pistachios or pumpkin seeds, anyone?—are good sources of fiber, packed with healthy fats and protein.

But all that goodness comes with a high calorie count, so keep your eye on serving size. A quarter-cup handful of almonds makes a good balance, with about 3 grams of fiber and around 170 calories. 

Try this recipe: Roasted Almonds With Lemon and Salt

It may be best known as a raw ingredient in beer and whisky, but barley is a whole grain, too, and a good source of heart-healthy beta glucan.

In a randomized controlled trial, healthy people who ate barley with their breakfast felt less hungry before lunch than study participants who ate wheat or refined rice.

Try this recipe: Barley Risotto Primavera

This protein-packed pulse (the umbrella term for beans and peas), is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine, found in soups, stews, and dhals. But whether you opt to whip them into a hearty soup or add them to a grain bowl, one thing is certain: Split peas are a fiber powerhouse. In fact, just one cooked cup contains 16.3 grams of fiber, making them one of the most fiber-dense foods around.

Try this recipe: Split Pea and Greens Soup

You may have despised these little cabbages as a kid, but with so many new tasty ways to prepare them, there's no reason to leave Brussels sprouts out of your diet. That's especially true because these veggies are also an excellent source of protein, boasting 4.1 grams per cup, boiled. Try them roasted with crispy capers and carrots, or charred and topped with a pancetta and fig glaze.

In addition to containing omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and a slew of vitamins and minerals, these little seeds are bursting with fiber. A single tablespoon of chia seeds has 5.5 grams of fiber. Plus, they're incredibly easy to incorporate into your daily diet. Sprinkle some chia seeds on your oatmeal, smoothies, or salads. You can also combine them with nut milk to create a delicious and healthy pudding, or use them as an egg replacement in baking.

What's great about guava? Not only does this fleshy tropical fruit provide about 3 grams of fiber, but it packs nearly three times as much vitamin C as an orange. And it's lower in sugar than mango: One cup contains 15 grams of sugar versus 23 grams for mango.

Don't mistake the "sweet" in sweet potato as a potential blood-sugar spiker. Even the American Diabetes Association recognizes sweet potatoes as a "superfood" good for people with diabetes. The fiber in these bright orange spuds keeps blood sugar from rising too quickly.

Try this recipe: How to Make Oven-Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

They're known for their vision-supporting dose of vitamin A, but you should also eat your carrots because they're full of fiber and water. That means carrots are not only filling (satisfying your appetite) but also a good choice for regulating blood sugar and insulin levels. 

Try this recipe: Roasted Carrots Recipe

This ruby-red (or yellow or red-and-white striped) root veggie isn't everyone's favorite, but if you love the earthiness of beets, there are lots of reasons to include them in your diet. One-half cup of cooked beets contains almost 2 grams of fiber, plus they're high is nitrates. 

Try this recipe: Roasted Beets With Chimichurri

Add this green leafy vegetable to your dinner rotation for their fiber content—and more. A half cup of fresh cooked collard greens, no fat added, provides about 3 grams of fiber and 22 calories, plus healthy amounts of vitamins K for bone health.

Try this recipe: Collard Salad with Roasted Tomatoes, Bacon, and Mushrooms

If you're looking for a versatile grain that packs protein and fiber, you can't go wrong with quinoa. You'll get more than 4 grams of protein and upwards of 2-1/2 grams of fiber per one-half cup of cooked quinoa. There are so many ways to prepare quinoa, you'll never get bored.

Why not indulge your passion for chocolate every now and then? Surprise, surprise: One ounce of dark chocolate (containing 70-85% cacao solids) provides more than 3 grams of fiber. Enjoy!

Try this recipe: Dark Chocolate-Pistachio Tart