Robert M. Giller, MD, suggests that fiber also helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing tiredness, irritability and moodiness. Now , states that without an adequate fiber intake, the body reabsorbs estrogen and testosterone, increasing the risk of breast and prostate cancer. He further claims that too little fiber in the diet causes the body to reabsorb bile acids, increasing the risk of elevated cholesterol levels and heart disease. The normal functioning of the intestinal tract depends upon the presence of adequate fiber. The longer it takes food to move through our system, the greater the risk of colon cancer.
Soluble fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, seeds, brown rice, barley, and oats.
It includes pectin, gums and some hemicellulose and works mainly to help produce a softer stool. Insoluble fiber is found in whole grains, seed hulls, fruits, and legumes. It includes cellulose, some hemicellulose and lignin and works like a sponge, absorbing many times its weight in water, swelling up inside the intestines and resulting in more efficient elimination. Each 1 tsp serving provides 3.2 grams soluble fiber and .6 grams insoluble fiber. Add 1 tsp to a glass of liquid, stir and drink.