If you’re not keen on foods that are naturally high in fiber—such as oatmeal, lentils, broccoli and peas—you may be tempted to choose fiber-fortified foods as a way to get your roughage. Manufacturers are putting isolated (“functional”) fibers in foods such as yogurt, ice cream, sugary cereals, energy bars, even juices and water, in order to make “high-fiber” claims. Dietary fiber, found in plant foods, promotes good bowel function and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol, among other benefits. The general recommendation is to get 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you consume. But are fiber-fortified foods as good as those that contain intact, naturally occurring fiber?

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