Fiber Facts

1. Insoluble Fiber – These fibers are capable of absorbing many times their own weight in water, creating a soft bulk to the stool that can pass the waste products out of the body.
   
   
   
   These insoluble fibers promote regular bowels and decrease risk of colon cancer.
2. Soluble Fiber – Fruits, vegetables, beans, oat bran, dried peas and flax seeds are good sources of soluble fiber.
   
   
   
   These fibers form a gel that slows down the absorption of simple sugars from the intestine. They also help in regulating blood sugar levels, lowers blood cholesterol and is helpful in weight control, as emptying of stomach is slow, there is a feeling of fullness, decrease in hunger causing fewer consumption of calories.
3. Resistant Starch – Breads, cereals, legumes, potatoes and rice are good sources. They resist normal digestive process, but bacteria in the colon change it into short-term fatty acids that are important for normal bowel health.
4. Dietary Fiber – It is an accurate measurement of the fiber content of foods, which is resistant to the human digestive enzymes.
   
   
   
   And includes parts of the plant food and crude fiber that cannot be digested.