ASU director helps kick off 'HealthFull' project

Linda Vaughan, director of the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion at Arizona State University is talking about the "f-word" – fiber – in the new “HealthFull” project in the Arizona Republic.

The Arizona Republic reports most adults in the U.S. eat an anemic 15 grams of fiber a day, enough to meet the needs of an average one-year-old, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those who short shrift fiber put themselves at risk for heart problems, obesity, diabetes and other health woes.

Yet, fiber seldom works its way into the national discussion about healthy eating. Why?

Too many of us think of high-fiber foods as tasting like cardboard and twigs, or wrongly think the only purpose of fiber is to prevent constipation.

"Fiber does not get enough credit for the role it plays in good health and for the flavors that it brings to our diets," said Vaughan.

"High-fiber foods are good for you in so many ways, and taste good, too."

Vaughan contributed her favorite high-fiber bread recipe for Oat, Orange, Cranberry bread.

"HealthFull" is a quarter-long Arizona Republic Food & Dining series that offers practical ways to come closer to meeting dietary guidelines for warding off chronic health problems.