NHS surgeon suggests easy ways to add 30 g fibre in your daily diet with fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes and more

Fibre is a vital yet often overlooked component of a balanced diet. From improving digestion to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, its benefits are vast. But how much fibre do we really need, and how can we reach that target with natural food sources? NHS surgeon and health educator Dr. Karan Rajan offers practical tips to help you easily add 30 grams of fibre to your daily intake using everyday foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Recommended Fibre Intake
According to the University of California San Francisco, the American Heart Association Eating Plan recommends a daily intake of 25 to 30 grams of fibre from food not supplements. But many of us fall short of this mark. Fortunately, Dr. Rajan’s simple food guide shows how you can hit this target naturally and deliciously.
Easy Ways to Add 5g Fibre at a Time
In a social media post shared on July 5, Dr. Rajan encouraged people to embrace what he calls “Fibermaxxing... the easy way!” without relying on exotic or expensive ingredients. He categorised common foods into groups and suggested specific quantities that provide approximately 5 grams of fibre each.
Here’s what he recommends:
Fruits
2 kiwis
80 g raspberries
1 pear
1.5 oranges
1 avocado
8 dried prunes
Vegetables
2 carrots
1 whole corn
5 sticks of asparagus
150 g of broccoli
1 sweet potato
80 g of peas
Nuts
50 g of hazelnuts
45 g of pistachios
40 g of almonds
65 g of walnuts
50 g of pecans
50 g of peanuts
Seeds
1 tbsp of chia seeds
1 tbsp of flax seeds
2 tbsp of shredded coconut
1 tbsp of psyllium husk
1 tbsp of hemp seeds
Legumes
2 tbsp of hummus
80 g of edamame beans
75 g of cooked beans
75 g of lentils
80 g of butter beans
2 tbsp of chickpeas
Other Foods
35 g of popcorn
50 g of dark rye bread
1 tbsp of cacao
100 g of seeded sourdough
50 g of dark chocolate
By mixing and matching just five to six of these options in a day, you can effortlessly meet your 30g fibre goal.
Why Is Fibre Important?
Fibre is well-known for aiding digestion and relieving constipation, but its advantages go far beyond the gut. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, fibre-rich diets can support weight management and reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
A report by Harvard Health adds that fibre helps in controlling blood sugar levels and promotes heart health by fighting inflammation, lowering cholesterol, and keeping blood pressure in check.
Conclusion
Reaching your daily fibre goal doesn’t require complicated superfoods or drastic dietary changes. As Dr. Karan Rajan illustrates, it can be as simple as adding an extra portion of fruit here, a handful of nuts there, or a scoop of seeds into your morning smoothie. By making these small adjustments, you can boost your digestive health and reduce the risk of multiple chronic diseases one fibre-rich bite at a time.