What Is Dietary Fiber & Why You Need It?

Change your gut & eat more fiber. But why it is important for your health & why you need it? Read out us or visit Family Always First Home Care. Dietary fiber, which includes both soluble or insoluble varieties, is found in whole plant foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes…

Fiber is made up of the indigestible parts or compounds of plants, which pass relatively unchanged through our stomach and intestines. Fiber is mainly a carbohydrate. The main role of fiber is to keep the digestive system healthy.

Here we explain more about fiber and why you need it, as well as
what foods to eat to maximize your insoluble fiber intake.

What is Dietary Fiber?

Dietary fiber refers to the parts of whole plant foods your body is unable to digest. While your body breaks down and absorbs other food components such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, it is unable to process dietary fiber in this way. Instead, fiber passes out of your body almost intact after traveling through your stomach, small intestine, and colon.

Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber

Soluble Fiber

This type of dietary fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance. It can help lower levels of cholesterol and glucose in the blood. Some good sources of soluble fiber include oats, citrus fruits, carrots, and barley.

Insoluble Fiber

This type of fiber does not dissolve in water. It can help promote the efficient movement of food through your digestive system by increasing stool bulk. Foods containing insoluble fiber include whole-wheat flour, nuts, beans, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

The Top Sources of Insoluble Fiber

Leafy Greens

Dark leafy greens pack in a lot of health benefits, not least due to their high-fiber content.

Berries

As a rule of thumb, fruits you eat with the skin on tend to have more insoluble fiber than fruits you need to peel. Bananas, for example, have insoluble fiber but only around two grams.

Cauliflower

Although raw cauliflower contains insoluble fiber, the amount increases when you cook it. Serve it as a popular side dish for nearly four grams of insoluble fiber per cup.

Nuts

With more than 14 grams of insoluble fiber per cup, almonds make a great high-fiber addition to your diet.

Your Guide to The Benefits of Insoluble Fiber

As this guide shows, there are plenty of economical, tasty, and versatile foods that are also great sources of insoluble fiber. While you should try to incorporate more of these foods into your diet, it’s important not to suddenly triple your fiber intake overnight. As with most dietary changes, it’s best to build up slowly when it comes to adding fiber to your diet.

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