Dietary fiber comes from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other plants you eat. Unlike fats, protein or carbohydrates, your body can’t absorb fiber. But as it passes through your digestive tract it provides a host of health benefits.
There are two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water, becoming a gel-like substance that helps you feel fuller longer, reduces the amount of fat you absorb from foods, and helps balance blood sugar and cholesterol. It also improves gut health by feeding your gut’s healthy bacteria and strengthening your microbiome.
Insoluble fiber on the other hand, helps bulk up stools, moves waste through the intestines, promotes regularity, and helps prevent occasional constipation and hemorrhoids.
Both types of fiber are critical not only for good digestive health, but overall health and vitality.