Q. When should you consider a fiber supplement?

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A. Nutrition experts recommend getting 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily and, “if you’re having trouble meeting this intake, taking a supplement [like Citrucel] may be an ideal way to up your intake,” says Amy Foxx Orenstein, D.O., a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Before you resort to taking such a supplement, aim to increase your intake of fiber-rich whole foods, as they provide beneficial nutrients—vitamins, minerals and antioxidants—in addition to fiber. Here are a handful of tips to get you started getting more fiber: Choose whole-grain cereal or oatmeal for breakfast. Eat a piece of fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. Replace white rice and bread with brown rice and whole-grain products. Snack on raw vegetables, and substitute legumes, such as beans and lentils, for meat two to three times a week.