I always thought that the fiber content of food was the insoluble part, and it consisted basically of cellulose. A. Fiber refers to a wide variety of substances found mainly in the cell walls of plants. It provides the structure and shape of the plant.
Most plants contain both kinds in varying amounts.
Besides cellulose, there are also other types of natural fiber including hemicellulose, gums, mucilages, pectin, and lignin. Still, consuming fiber has very important health benefits. The best known of these is the prevention or correction of constipation. In addition, studies suggest that fiber may help prevent colon, rectal and breast cancer, diverticulosis, diabetes, and heart disease. Oats are high in fiber.