How much fiber should you get in a day?

Mg are variable, based on diet and lifestyle. E.G., very active people tend to 'move' their instestinal tract more regularly & and effectively. That being said: if diet is heavy in fast food, fried food, red meats and not so many fruits and veggies, there can still be 'issues'. Equally, fiber is not exclusively a food product to move the bowls easily--it is crucial in flushing fats, triglycerides, and oxidants out of the blood stream (which leads to Heart disease, etc.) SO, a ggod rule of thumb is to have real whole-oat oatmeal with breakfast EVERY morning + dark greens of some sort with each meal (kale, spinach, broccoli, green bell peppers, and/or purple radichio). This should be sufficient for the average person. Of course. Have an Apple--with skin--as a snack in the evening rather than cookies (or as an addition).

Caveat: if you have Crohn's Disease be cautious with food-based fiber & take a glass of metamucil, beneful, or citracel once a day instead. Remember also, as you add fiber, if you've had little for years, don't be surprised by gas & bloating for the first couple of weeks--it'll pass (pardon the pun).