What is Fiber?

Fiber is one of the most celebrated nutrients responsible for allover health. Medical journals, newspapers, and television are all telling consumers to "get more fiber" and exclaiming, "The benefits of fiber are..." but what is fiber? In this article I will explain what fiber is, as well as cite some of the benefits of fiber. By the end of this article, you will be asking yourself, "Why didn't I ask this earlier?"

What is fiber?

Simply put, fiber is the indigestible substance that is found mainly in the outer layers of plants. Fiber is classified as a carbohydrate. Fiber passes through the digestive tract virtually unchanged, without being broken down into nutrients. The colon breaks down fiber with bacteria that naturally occur there. The organic acids produced by this breakdown helps to nourish the lining of the colon (www.ehealthmd.com). These acids also provide fuel for the rest of the body, including the liver (www.ehealthmed.com). Fiber may also have an important role in metabolism.

There are two types of fiber. Until recently, they have been known as soluble and insoluble fiber. However, scientists claim that these terms oversimplify fiber and do not accurately describe its function. The newly proposed terms for the two types of fiber are viscous" and "fermentability" in place of soluble and insoluble to describe the functions and health benefits of fiber (www.whfoods.com). However, most of the research on fiber has been done using the traditional terms of "soluble fiber" and insoluble fiber." Therefore, I will discuss the benefits and characteristics of these types.

Soluble fiber has been found to help lower blood cholesterol. Oats have the highest proportion of soluble fiber of any grain. The popular Cheerios campaign can attest to this. Foods high in soluble fiber include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp (www.americanheart.org).