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health advisory Diet Diet 2007-11-11 21:04:34

Is fiber the same from fruits and vegetables as from whole wheat and oatmeal?

Answer:

There are 2 kinds of fiber. Soluble and insoluble. All foods that have fiber in them contain both kinds, just in different ratios. Grains & beans tend to have more insoluble fiber, veggies and fruits tend to have more soluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber:

Moves bulk though intestines

Control the ph balance of the intestines

By keeping the PH balance optimal, helps prevent bacteria & microbes in your intestines from producing cancer causing substances

Promoter regular bowel movements

Prevent constipation

Remove toxic build up in intestines (think of it like it鈥檚 scrubbing them clean)

Food sources of insoluble fiber:

Green veggies like green beans & leafy things

Fruit skins & root vegetables

Whole wheat stuff

Oats

Corn bran

Seeds & nuts

Soluble fiber:

Binds with fatty acids

Make it so that you release the sugars from your foods over time which regulates your blood sugar levels and keeps your energy even throughout the day (good for people with diabetes)

Lowers total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad one)

Food sources:

Oats

Dried beans & peas

Nuts

Barley

Flax seed

Fruits like oranges and apples

Vegetables like carrots

Psyllium husk

Check out wikipedia for more technical info on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dietary_fib...