Fiber is great for you, but beware of fibermaxxing right away. Here's how to eat more of it without being bloated.

• Most people don't eat enough fiber, which supports heart health and lowers the risk of colon cancer. • However, a dietitian warned that eating too much fiber too soon can cause digestive distress. • She shared tips on how to gradually increase your fiber intake until your body adjusts.

Most Americans don't eat enough fiber. As a result, they miss out on its many benefits, including supporting heart and gut health, lowering cholesterol, managing weight, and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

If you feel tempted to stock up on soluble fiber — say, by adding beans to every meal — you might want to take your foot off the gas. Literally.

"Many people can experience gas or bloating when they increase fiber too quickly," Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian, told Busi