Monday, May 12, 2008

last updated: October 01, 2007 05:23:53 AM

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, fiber is an important nutrient in our diets, and we need to pay attention to the benefits. Here's a quiz to find out what you know about fiber's benefits:

1 Fiber in the diet is basically carbohydrates that can't be digested. True or false?

2 Soluble fiber is one that partially dissolves in water. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. True or false?

3 Current recommendations suggest that adults consume 20 to 36 grams of dietary fiber each day. True or false?

4 The average American gets plenty of dietary fiber. True or false?

5 A diet high in fiber reduces your risk of colon cancer. True or false?

6 High intake of dietary fiber has been linked to a decreased risk of heart disease. True or false?

7 Some studies show that a high-fiber diet may be linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. True or false?

8 Fruit juices have just as much fiber as eating whole fruit. True or false?

Answers: 1) True; 2) True; 3) True; 4) False; 5) False. A Harvard report shows dietary fiber is not strongly associated with a reduced risk for either colon cancer or polyps. 6) True; 7)True; 8) False.

-- Harvard School of Public Health