It is estimated that only 5% of US population hits the daily recommended fiber intake ( 3). On average, North Americans eat 15 g per day, which is pitiful ( 4). UK recommends ~25 g dietary fiber/day ( 2). US dietary recommendations are ~14 g/1000 calories/day. This definition includes both soluble and insoluble fiber as, in the case of soluble fiber, it is gut bacteria that are fermenting the fibers and not enzymes secreted the intestine themselves ( 1). The CODEX definition, which seeks to unify labeling amongst many other goals, has this as the following definition: any oligosaccharide of 3 carbons or more, either naturally derived/extracted or synthetically composed, that is enzymatically indigestible by the human GI tract, and confers a physiological benefit to the body in some fashion.
What is dietary fiber? There are many definitions, which isn’t great. If you just want a link to the chart, click here.
