According to recent USDA surveys, the average daily intake of dietary fiber by women 19 to 50 years of age is about 12 grams. Intake by men of the same age is about 17 grams. The difference between the amount of fiber we do consume and the amount we should consume is called the "fiber gap". The problem, is that most popular American foods are not high in dietary fiber. The United States has one of the lowest per capita intakes of fiber in the world. Therefore, decreasing the fiber gap by increasing daily fiber intake, either through diet or with supplements, is recommended for most Americans.