Final answer:
Factors such as limited access to nutritious food options, poor appetite or reduced food intake, and dental problems often limit older adults' abilities to obtain enough daily fiber in their diets. Dietary fiber is found in whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits and plays a crucial role in maintaining digestive health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Older adults can increase their fiber intake by making simple dietary changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors such as limited access to nutritious food options, poor appetite or reduced food intake, and dental problems often limit older adults' abilities to obtain enough daily fiber in their diets.
Dietary fiber is found in whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits. It plays a crucial role in maintaining digestive health, preventing constipation, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
To increase daily fiber intake, older adults can substitute refined grains with whole grains, consume more legumes, and aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.