Fiber is a very important component of a healthy diet. Sadly, the average person is not getting enough fiber at all. The person who is following a diet to avoid or reduce their gluten intake is even less likely to be getting enough fiber. Gluten is a specific type of protein that is found in foods made from wheat and other related grains. Gluten is also found in a number of processed foods usually as a binding ingredient. Celiac disease sufferers and those who have sensitivities to gluten cannot digest this protein causing serious pain and nausea.

Encouraging fiber for those people is easier said than done. While fruits and vegetables are the obvious choice for increased fiber, there are other foods that should be included in the diet as well. Since wheat and other grains cannot be eaten, many people assume that they will not be able to eat bread at all. However, there are several types of grains that do not have gluten. Oats, brown rice and buckwheat can all be subbed in for wheat or wheat like grains in the gluten free diet. Interesting choices like amaranth, millet and quinoa are also good for the gluten free diet. Popcorn, a dieter's dream snack is also on the okay list. It is also high in fiber as well.

Before you start buying a bunch of gluten free foods, even the high fiber ones, you have to ask yourself why you are doing so. The increased number of gluten free products (including quite a few that were always gluten free) on the market does not necessarily reflect an increased number of diagnoses. The numbers indicate that there is roughly one million people who have actual celiac disease but a huge number of others who have not yet been diagnosed.

Even with those high numbers, there are plenty of people who are neither suffering from celiac disease or have gluten sensitivity but insist on buying these products. True gluten free products can be beneficial and many people have found it easier to lose weight, however, be wary of the products that simply list "gluten free" but are high in fat, sugar and calories. Technically, the labels are correct on those foods, but that is not because they are suddenly healthier for you in any way. The experts call that the "halo" effect where a label will give a food the appearance of being more healthy than they really are.