Unless you have a problem with certain bodily functions for which prunes are a common home remedy, we really don't think too much about fiber in our diets. In the 1970's researchers established a link between the high fiber diets of rural Africans and the absence of many diseases common to industrialized Western countries. Subsequent studies have confirmed these findings. The most common disorder for which fiber is a treatment is constipation, but it has an effect on a variety of other disorders as well. Colon cancer, the second most common form of cancer in the United States, is rare among people with a diet rich in high fiber foods.
Elevated cholesterol is a known factor in heart disease.
A number of studies have linked high fiber intake with low levels of cholesterol. There is some evidence that fiber may help in preventing the formation of gallstones. Other researchers have shown that high fiber intake helps in lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics, thus reducing their dependence on insulin. Finally, people who eat a high fiber diet are rarely obese. While fiber itself is not a cure for obesity, high fiber diets are generally low in fat and fiber fills you up without adding calories.