Dietary Fiber 1

What Is Dietary Fiber?

Dietary fiber comes from the portion of plants that is not digested by enzymes in the intestinal tract. Part of it, however, may be metabolized by bacteria in the lower gut.

Different types of plants have varying amounts and kinds of fiber, including pectin, gum, mucilage, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Pectin and gum are water-soluble fibers found inside plant cells. They slow the passage of food through the intestines but do nothing to increase fecal bulk. Beans, oat bran, fruit and vegetables contain soluble fiber.

In contrast, fibers in cell walls are water insoluble. These include cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Such fibers increase fecal bulk and speed up the passage of food through the digestive tract. Wheat bran and whole grains contain the most insoluble fiber, but vegetables and beans also are good sources.

Soluble Fiber: oatmeal, oatbran,nuts,seeds, legumes (peas,beans,lentils),apples,pears,strawberries,blueberries.

Insoluble Fiber: whole grains (wholewhaet bread, brown rice,etc..) ,wheat bran, carrots, cucumbers, zucchinin, tomatoes.

Read another posts in this blog: Home , Green Tea Part 1, Green Tea Part 2, Dietary Minerals 1 , Dietary Minerals2, Dietary Minerals3, Vitamins1, Vitamins2, Vitamins3 , Vitamins4, Water and Human Health, Calcium1,Calcium2, Vitamins and Mineral Food Sources, Healthy Foods1, Healthy Foods2, Dietary Fibers1, Dietary Fibers2, Dietary Fibers3, .......to be continued.