Fewer than 10% of Americans get enough fiber

Digestive health may not sound glamorous, but right now it’s the wellness topic everyone is talking about.

On TikTok, the hashtag “fibermaxxing” has turned everyday foods like chia pudding and overnight oats into viral staples for increasing fiber intake — an effort to close the gap in a nutrient most of us underconsume. Fewer than 10% of Americans hit the Department of Agriculture’s recommended intake of 25 grams daily for women and 38 grams daily for men.

Social media creators are sharing hacks to reach your fiber goals, and some brands are starting to shift with the trend.

Jeni Britton, founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, swapped dessert for digestion by co-founding her new brand, Floura. Using upcycled fruit scraps like apple cores and watermelon rinds, the chewy snack bars deliver as much as 13 grams of fiber.

For Britton, the move is personal, telling The Cut that fiber helped her regain energy and reset her career. Now she’s betting that fiber-forward snacks can be as enjoyable as ice cream in today’s gut-health-obsessed culture.

The benefits of fiber stretch far beyond digestion. A high-fiber diet helps regulate blood sugar, lower cholesterol and protect against several cancers. It’s also tied to a reduced risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Day to day, fiber helps you feel fuller longer, quiets “food noise” and even eases bloating. But there’s a caveat: Adding too much too quickly can backfire. Experts recommend increasing intake gradually and drinking plenty of water to keep things moving through the digestive tract.

The best sources are still whole foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains. But for a little extra help, here are some easy fiber-boosting options: