Veggies, fruits, and pulses; does the source of fiber matter?

Nutrition Q&A [Moderated]
1

In a normal day I usually eat a big salad at dinner and a couple piece of fruit throughout the day which doesn’t meet the fiber guidelines. When I do hit the fiber guidelines it is because I ate a cup or two of pulses (dry beans, chickpeas, lentils, or peas). My day job is in agriculture research and I have a pretty much unlimited supply to dry beans and some other pulses.

Is there any downside to getting roughly half, or the majority, of your fiber intake from something other than fruits and veggies? Personally, I love dry beans. Great fiber for the calories with some added protein.

2

I think this is fine, though I would aim for > 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

3

Hi Jordan, do you think there is a significant difference in health outcome depending on how many of those servings are fruits/vegetables? E.g. is there any difference between 10 servings fruit, 0 servings vegetables; 5 servings fruit, 5 servings vegetables; 0 servings fruit, 10 servings vegetables?

4

Not sure, but a health-promoting dietary pattern would definitely have both fruits and vegetables and not just one or the other.

5

I see, thanks!