Question 3
Why do you suspect that men in this study sought other sources of dietary fiber in addition to fruits and vegetables? Would this influence any differences in your recommendations of dietary fiber sources to a male or female client?
posted by Anonymous @ 1:43 PM
15 comments
15 Comments:
This question stumped me a little bit. This is just an assumption but from what I've observed, men tend to eat less fruits and veggies because they perceive them to be less convenient. I've noticed, especially with the men in my family, that fiber one bars or other types of snacks with added fiber are usually chosen over an apple or pear for example. I think this could be a contributing factor to why they consumed more fiber. Generally, fiber enhanced products have about 5-9 grams of fiber making it easier to get more in with one or two snacks or their bowl of cereal in the morning. I'd be interested to see if there is any research out there on this topic. As far as my recommendations, I would tell a client that it is ok to consume the foods with added fiber but it's also very important to get the fruits and veggies in because of their high nutrient content.
The only reason I can think of that men sought other sources of fiber besides fruits and vegetables could be due to discussions with MD's on heart healthy diets. The study mentioned that the participants all were at risk for cardiovascular disease and so maybe they looked into products such as oats and cheerios, which are frequently advertised as heart healthy and are high in fiber. They may also have consumed breakfast bars or other meal supplements that contained higher than usual amounts of fiber. This study would not change my recommendations for sources of fiber. I would discuss the importance of getting fiber from grains as well as fruits and vegetables. If it was appropriate for the patient I would discuss the different types of fiber so they understood of the need for consuming a variety of foods containing fiber.
I honestly do not know specifically why men in this study sought other sources of dietary fiber in addition to fruits and vegetable. I wonder if it has to do with hormones etc? I would have to do one on one interviewing to see why they made those choices.
Jamie-
Interesting comments Jamie. When I think about the men in my family they tend to stay away from fruits/vegetables because they just don't think about grabbing them.
Jordan-
You make a really good point about these men possibly receiving information about heart healthy grains. Good idea!
This question really made me think for a bit (good one Amanda!) and I really can't come up with a reason that only men specifically wanted additional fiber sources. Sometimes when I have counseled clients, suggesting an increase in fruit and vegetable intake makes them feel like they are eating nothing. Maybe the men in this group needed to eat something that was still healthy, but gave them the impression that they were eating something more substantial to fill them up?
Jordan, I like your point about the heart healthy grain education from the MD...but wouldn't the woman have recieved the same information? Perhaps the men focused more on this part of the nutrition education?
Jordan- Good point about the heart healthy diet education. That may be part of the reason for men consuming other sources of fiber besides fruit and vegetables.
I think that people are very much more aware of fiber and its benefits in the last few years. When you think about media and products in the supermarket that are advertised as high fiber-it is the bars, cereals (as Jamie and Jordan mentioned) You rarely ever see a sign next to the apples advertising their fiber content. I think that this is an education piece. People may not know that fruit and vegetables are high in fiber if no one has ever told them. I don't have the answer to this question, maybe women are just smarter :). In all seriousness, there could be many reasons, and different reasons for different men, men may pay more attention to this marketing, convenience factor, lack of cooking, maybe they are seeking protein/fiber sources in whole grains. Good question Amanda - if we can find the answer we know how to educate some of these men.
I also agree with Jordan as some others did- these men may have been given heart healthy diets that focused on those whole grain fiber foods.
While I'm not at all sure why these differences occurred, tt could be possible that men tend to prefer more convenient food items than women. Fruits and especially vegetables often need to be prepared or cut before eating, while other sources of fiber such as cereals, nuts, fiber/granola bars, and breads do not need much preparation if any.
The evidence from this one study would not necessarily change my recommendations for men and women, but it does raise my awareness that it may be necessary to provide additional information on sources of fiber besides fruits and vegetables (possibly specifically more to men).
Jaime, I was also thinking exactly what you mentioned about a lot of men I know not often choosing to pick up fresh fruits or vegetables as snacks. It would be interesting to learn why a lot of men do not often choose fruits and vegetables. Could it be appetite? Or maybe general priority for choosing healthy foods?
Jamie and I were discussing this question. While I do eat plenty fruits and veggies I feel that whole grains and beans pack more fiber. I often only see fruits and veggies for their vitamins, minerals and antioxidant potential and not so much their fiber content. Why do you suspect women in the study did not look to other food sources for dietary fiber?
I would give the same recommendations to both groups. I think this is a huge assumption that there may be many other variable for that without looking into is just a surface point that may have deeper meaning. If the participant asked for further sources I would be more than happy to provide that information, but this sterotyping could only lead to negative results.
Jamie I agree with you. I think the inconvience and taste factor play in a lot, especially in the younger generations. With this added products its easy to meet their needs, but I also think its beneficial to provide information on why true sources of fiber are important as well.
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