Facts about dietary fiber

whole grains

• Fiber is divided into 2 basic types - soluble and insoluble.
• Soluble fiber is found in vegetables, fruits, seeds, barley, brown rice, oats, and oat bran.
• Sources of insoluble fiber include: wheat and corn bran, whole grain foods, potato skins, nuts and seeds and flax seed. 
• Insoluble fiber is metabolically inert, absorbing water throughout the digestive system and easing defecation.
• Fiber is found only in plant foods and it is resistant to human digestive enzymes.
• Fiber is one of the 3 types of carbohydrates. The other two types are starch and sugars.
• Colon cancer is rare among people with a diet low in meat and rich in high-fiber foods.
• Fiber speeds up food passage in the digestive tract.
• Fiber-rich foods contain phytochemicals, known to reduce cancerrisks.
• The term "fiber" is something of a misnomer, since many types of so-called dietary fiber are not fibers at all.
• Fiber-rich plants can be eaten directly. Or, alternatively, they can be used to make supplements and fiber-rich processed foods.
• Soluble fiber can help lower cholesterol levels.