Types of Dietary Fiber

Fiber is the roughage or the undigested part of food that can be classified into two broad categories, namely soluble and insoluble fiber. It is recommended that an average man should consume about 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. As far as fiber intake is concerned, there are two distinctive types of dietary fiber that you can choose to opt for. Read further to explore information about dietary fibre types…

Soluble fiber aids in lowering blood cholesterol level. It slows down the process of absorption of glucose, thereby helps in keeping the blood glucose level in control. Good sources of soluble fiber are legumes (lentils, chickpeas and beans), oat bran and some fruits and vegetables, such as apples, oranges and carrots.

Insoluble fiber ensures smooth bowel movements and thus helps in easily flushing out waste products from the body. The best sources for consuming insoluble fibre are whole-grain cereals and most vegetables and fruits. Basically, all kinds of plant oriented foods act as good sources of both types of dietary fiber. So, incorporate fiber in your daily meals, but take care that your fibre intake does not exceed more than 50 to 60 grams per day, because that can pose hurdles for the absorption of vitamins and minerals.