For a healthier you, put more fruits, veggies and grains into your diet.

Where is dietary fiber found?

It is found in fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes.

What is fiber best known for?

It is best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation.

Fiber can also provide other health benefits such as lowering your risk of acquiring diabetes and heart disease.

Dietary fiber is also known as roughage, bulk and all of the parts of the plant food that our body can digest or absorb.

Unlike other food components such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, carbohydrates are not digested by the body, fiber passes mostly intact through the stomach, small intestine and is eliminated in the colon- so it stays with your body a long time which is an important role in maintaining health and wellness.

The 2 types of Fiber: Insoluble and Soluble

Insoluble is the type that promotes movement of material through your digestive tract and increases your stool bulk. This can really help people who have difficulties with constipation or irregular stools.

Where is insoluble fiber found?

Whole wheat flour

Wheat bran

Nuts and veggies

Where is soluble fiber found?

Soluble fiber is the type that dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance. It can help lower cholesterol and glucose levels. Soluble fiber is found in oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley and psyllium

What are the may benefits of a high-fiber diet?

Normalizing bowel moments

Maintaining bowel health

Lowering cholesterol levels

Controlling blood glucose levels

Aids in weight loss

Uncertain affects on colorectal cancer- there is some evidence that dietary fiber can help coleorectal cancer, but the evidence is mixed- some studies are beneficial and some not.

Taken in part from: Dietary Fiber for a Healthy Diet. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fiber/NUOOO33

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