By: Karolina Starczak

Jul 14, 2009

Advertisements claiming to improve digestive health have officially taken over. There are tons of products out there that claim they can make us more “regular." So why is a little extra “roughage” causing such a big stir? Statistics show that as many as 25 percent of us report experiencing irregularity—that’s not counting the rest of us that may be a little too shy to admit it.

As embarrassing as our little internal disturbances may be, there are plenty of products found right in your supermarket that might help that less than desirable bloated feeling. It’s a common fact that many of us don’t come close to the 25 to 38 grams of fiber we need daily. Not to mention, fiber is a great way to feel fuller without adding extra calories. After consuming fiber, a certain fullness hormone is triggered that sends your brain an “I’m full” alert. While the little messengers are telling the brain you're full, fiber also swells within the stomach increasing the volume and making it so much easier to skip dessert. How can you feel full and still shrink your portions? Simply make sure you’re getting enough fiber. Reaching the recommended fiber level has gotten easier with new fiber-enriched products. Here is an easy breakdown of some of the popular products out on the market:

Fiber One Yogurt  This is my number one fiber pick. With flavors featuring key lime pie, strawberry, and vanilla, this fiber-filled yogurt is unbeatable at only 50 calories, no fat, and five grams of fiber. This is a guilt-free snack that will keep cravings low while sneaking in a little vitamin D and calcium.

GG Bran Crispbread  This delightful crisp cracker is one of a kind, containing 85 percent unprocessed bran. Just one slice provides you with five grams of fiber, no fat, under a gram of sugar, and only 12 calories! Get inspired and dress your cracker with yogurt and berries for a great anytime snack.

South Beach Living FiberFit Bars  Forget coffee; try indulging in this delicious Mocha Granola Bar. With nine grams of fiber and no high-fructose corn syrup lurking inside the package, it’s the perfect grab-and-go 120-calorie treat. The FiberFit line also offers cookies as well as decadent dark chocolate wafer sticks. That’s right, two crispy wafers covered in dark chocolate fudge—Yum!

Wheat Thins Fiber Selects  While chocolaty bars have their time and place, sometimes a nice crunchy, yet slightly salty snack hits the spot. With five grams of fiber and 120 calories, eight crunchy Wheat Thins will help you slam the door right in that potato chip craving’s face.

Kellogg’s Fiber Plus Antioxidants  Do you feel like you’re constantly choosing between fiber and antioxidants? Well now you can have the best of both worlds with this scrumptious Fiber Plus Antioxidants Bar. This snack packs nine grams of fiber along with vitamin E and zinc to give your whole body a boost.

Do you look for fiber in your food products?