Every 10g-per-day increase in fiber intake was linked with a 15% drop in death risk during the study.
Dietary fiber may improve blood pressure and cholesterol, experts say.
On average, most people in the UK get about 14g of fiber a day, against a target of at least 18g.
US experts recommend up to 38g a day.
Fruit, such as bananas and apples, root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, whole meal bread, cereals and bran
are all good sources of dietary fiber.
A jacket potato and baked beans contain about 10g of fiber; two slices of whole meal bread about 4g.