If your current diet does not include many fiber-rich foods, introduce them slowly. Be sure to drink from six to eight glasses of water or other liquids when you increase fiber-rich foods in your diet. Foods made from cereal grains provide starches, or complex carbohydrates, which provide an excellent energy source, especially for those on low-fat diets. Carbohydrates have less than half the energy value of fats. Breads, cereals and pasta made from whole grains are also a source of fiber.
Fiber helps to regulate bowel function and relieve constipation.
Fiber may be a protective factor for coronary heart disease and certain types of cancer. Foods from this food group provide many of the essential B vitamins, which play important roles in the body's enzyme systems, aiding energy utilization and the growth processes. Enriched breads and cereals are also a source of iron. Iron is a part of hemoglobin which supplies oxygen to body cells. Grains at Different Life Stages Infants Dietitians and doctors recommend cereals as the first food to be added to infant diets.