Fibermaxxing is going viral on social media. The TikTok user @impamibaby says her regular breakfast of fiber-rich chia seeds with fruit has made her bloating disappear. The nutrition brand @join_zoe recommends that people fibermax by adding more nutrient-dense foods to their diet (like throwing in peas, asparagus, and squash into a pesto pasta dish), rather than cutting things out.
“I love that fibermaxxing is gaining traction,” says Malina Malkani, RDN, a registered dietitian-nutritionist in New York City. “It’s refreshing to see a mostly positive nutrition trend going viral, and anything that encourages more whole fruits, veggies, legumes, and whole grains is a win in my book.”
This is crucial, as most Americans are fiber-deficient, “especially due to recent trends of keto and carnivore diets,” adds Jessica Smith, RD, an oncology dietitian with UC Davis Medical Center in California.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, women need about 25 grams (g) of fiber a day, and men need about 31 g — but around 90 percent of women and 97 percent of men don’t meet that goal.
What Is Fiber?
Fiber is a kind of carbohydrate typically found in plants. Your body can’t digest fiber, but it performs critical functions as it passes through your system: It regulates blood sugar, helps you feel full after eating, and improves your poop.
There are two types of fiber:
Soluble fiber dissolves in water and turns to gel in the digestive tract. This slows digestion, staving off hunger and lowering cholesterol.
Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water. It helps food move through your digestive system, which can prevent constipation.
Most Americans consume only about 15 g of fiber a day — around half the daily recommendation, Smith says.
The Benefits of Fiber
There are numerous benefits to eating the recommended amount of fiber every day.
Boosts Gut Health
Fiber adds bulk to your stool, preventing constipation and improving digestive regularity, says Melissa Rifkin, RD, a Connecticut-based dietitian and the owner of Melissa Rifkin Nutrition. It also supports the healthy bacteria in your intestines, which play a role in your immune system and mood, Smith says.
“The more variety we have in our diet, the more diverse our gut microbiome, which leads to a healthier and happier life,” Smith says.
Fiber helps stabilize your glucose levels by slowing your body’s absorption of sugar, Malkani says. This can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.
When you eat fiber, it can also keep your body from absorbing cholesterol from food and reduce inflammation, Smith says. This can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Helps With Weight Loss
Fiber can help you lose weight and maintain a healthy weight via a few mechanisms. One is its ability to regulate sugar in the bloodstream, which also helps balance hunger-regulating hormones, Malkani says.
High-fiber foods are more filling and take longer to digest, so you’ll feel full and satisfied for longer and have fewer cravings between meals, she explains. Fiber-rich foods also tend to be lower in calories, Smith adds.
“The combination of improved satiety and reduced fasting blood glucose allows fiber to be effective in weight loss goals,” Rifkin says.
The Best High-Fiber Foods
The healthiest sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes.
Dietitians particularly love:
Raspberries and other types of berries
Lentils
Chia seeds
Oats
Avocados
Sweet potatoes with the skin
Broccoli
Beans
Almonds
Whole grains
Beyond fiber, these foods also contain other essential nutrients, like unsaturated fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, Rifkin says.
When You Might Need a Fiber Supplement
You should aim to boost your fiber intake via whole foods, Rifkin says. If you’re unable to meet your fiber needs from food sources, a fiber supplement can be beneficial.
Fiber supplements may also be helpful for picky eaters, individuals with food allergies, or anyone with a gastrointestinal condition who has to limit what they eat, Malkani says.
“Although fiber is an essential nutrient, you should always discuss supplements with your physician,” because they’re not appropriate for everyone, Rifkin says.
Who Should and Shouldn’t Try Fibermaxxing
Fibermaxxing is beneficial for most people, as few of us get enough fiber in our diets, Smith says.
But if you’re not used to eating fiber, add it in slowly. Too much fiber without time to adjust may cause constipation, bloating, and cramping. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water with fiber-rich foods to avoid constipation.
Fiber recommendations may vary from person to person, depending on age, weight, how much you eat, and your overall health, Smith says, “so it’s important to consult your physician or registered dietitian for guidance.”
If you have a gut condition like IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, or diverticulitis, or you’ve recently had bowel surgery, you may “need a different approach to fiber,” Smith explains. “Consult your physician or registered dietitian to determine how much fiber is right for you.”
The Bottom Line on Fibermaxxing
Fibermaxxing is beneficial for most people who aren’t currently meeting their fiber needs.
“I’m thrilled to see a growing interest in adding more fiber,” Smith says. “Often, diet trends focus on removing foods, so it is refreshing to have fibermaxxing focus on adding certain foods into the diet, which is a more sustainable approach.”
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Emily Kay Votruba has copyedited and fact-checked for national magazines, websites, and books since 1997, including Self, GQ, Gourmet, Golf Magazine,Outside, Cornell University Press, Penguin Random House, and Harper's Magazine. Her projects have included cookbooks (Padma Lakshmi's Tangy Tart Hot & Sweet), self-help and advice titles (Mika Brzezinski's Know Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You're Worth), memoirs (Larry King's My Remarkable Journey), and science (Now You See It: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Learn, by Cathy Davidson). She started freelancing for Everyday Health in 2016.
Erica Sweeney has been a journalist for more than two decades. These days, she mostly covers health and wellness as a freelance writer. Her work regularly appears in The New York Times, Men’s Health, HuffPost, Self, and many other publications. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she previously worked in local media and still lives.
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