Why YSK: fiber is important for optimal human health. It helps us avoid diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, obesity, and other diseases. This is particularly important in developed countries such as mine (USA) that are suffering greatly from these diseases.

The recommended daily fiber intake is 25g for women and 38g for men in the USA, and 95% of us don’t meet this amount. This suggests an urgent need for us to increase our daily fiber intake, which can be achieved by swapping out ultra-processed foods and animal foods that are void of fiber with whole plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

  • lagomorphlecture@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Why so much higher for men? On an average day I eat probably somewhere between 25 and 45 g depending on what I’ve meal preppes D for the week and what I’ve decided on for snacks. I am a vegetarian who eats mostly whole foods. I can’t even fathom how the average American could come anywhere even close to that. It’s a LOT of beans/whole grains/vegetables/chia seeds/etc.

    • harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 months ago

      In general, American men are larger - dimensionally - so more fibre is required for a larger person.

      Ideally, an individual would work with their doctor or whoever to figure out how much would be appropriate.

      • NaoPb@eviltoast.org
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        2 months ago

        Because larger people need to eat more, as their body requires more energy, and so they need more fiber, I’m assuming.

        I was Googling just now and found that women have a longer colon than man. I wonder if that makes any difference.

          • Notyou@sopuli.xyz
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            2 months ago

            Right? How else are you supposed to figure out who is on the other side of a glory hole? Mouths feel the same but that colon depth is noticeable, if you are paying attention.

      • lagomorphlecture@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        Ok but I was curious another specific physiological reasons lol like maybe men require that much more or they don’t see cardiovascular benefits or something like that.

        • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Overall, men are significantly more massive than women, so our caloric intake is also proportionally higher. As a 6’3" 230lb man, if I were to try to stick to a 2000 calorie a day diet, I would lose weight. I need 2500 calories if I don’t work out, and more like 3400 if I do.