Dietary Fiber

Dietary fiber or roughage, consists of carbohydrates that the human body cannot digest, such as cellulose, but are still important for nutrition and digestive health. The benefits of a high fiber diet include more regular bowel movements, and reduced risk of heart disease and type II diabetes.

Fiber can be broken down into two main types, soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is any source of fiber that dissolves in water. Sources include, oatmeal, berries, seeds, nuts, legumes, and lentils. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water, so it remains mostly unchanged chemically through the digestive process. Sources of insoluble fiber include whole wheat and whole grains, cucumber, tomatoes, brown rice, and many vegetables.