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.