In order to do this we need to know what fiber is and where to get it. Dietary fiber is a term that includes many different chemical components but is probably best defined as those parts of plants that are resistant to digestion in the stomach and small intestine. In other words, it does not get absorbed. Older names for dietary fiber are roughage and crude fiber. But there are different types and amounts of fiber in everything we eat.
White bread has very little fiber but whole wheat bread is a good source.
There are two broad categories of fiber that you will see on food labels, called insoluble and soluble. This simply refers to the ability of these to dissolve in hot water. Insoluble fiber assists in maintaining regular bowel movements while soluble fiber lowers blood cholesterol levels and can help regulate blood sugar concentrations. We ll discuss these effects in another report. Appropriate food sources for both kinds of fiber will be described later this week and next.