Fiber has many virtues. Intestinal health Fiber stimulates the muscles in your intestine, which helps keep them toned and functioning smoothly. This action helps prevent diverticulosis -a disease that weakens the walls of the intestine and causes them to bulge out and potentially become irritated. And, of course, fiber reduces the risk of constipation and hemorrhoids . When combined with a low-fat diet, fiber can help lower cholesterol in the blood by reducing how much of it is absorbed by the body.
Some experts believe dietary fiber binds with cholesterol, making it less absorbable.
The precise mechanism responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effect of soluble fiber is unclear. Eating a high-fiber diet also can help reduce the amount of fat you eat. A recent study found that men, who ate two bowls of high-fiber cereal every day for 12 weeks without altering their diets in any other way, lowered the amount of fat they normally ate by 10 percent. They also reduced their cholesterol, which helps lower the risk for heart disease . There is still a case for fiber and a lower risk of colon cancer .