Fibers are easy to get, as many foods contain abundance of fiber. Dietary fibers are that part of the plant that your body can’t digest. Your body need vegetable or plant fiber. It is of various varieties and is found more in unrefined and raw foods. Overcooking destroys fibers. There are two main types of fibers: soluble and non-soluble. Both play different but important roles in promoting health.
Soluble fibers include pectin, gums, and mucilage. These form gel-like substances in the intestine and are useful in preventing and treating heart diseases and in controlling diabetes and hypoglycemia. Good sources of soluble fiber include oats, barley, grams, lentils, carrots, green peas, cauliflower, pears; non-soluble fibers include hemi-cellulose, cellulose lignin, add bulk to the stool and speed elimination. They help to prevent and/or treat intestinal disorders such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome and possibly cancers of the colon, prostate, breast, ovaries. Good sources of non-soluble fibers are wheat, corn, bran, whole wheat breads, beans, nuts, seeds, popcorn, fruits and vegetables.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.
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