It is the softer, stickier and thicker fiber. Pectins help fruits to hold water which gives them the textures we expect and enjoy. Another soluble fiber is psyllium. It comes from the dried husk of the psyllium seed, primarily harvested in India, and is an effective laxative when consumed in high amounts. It is an excellent source of fiber now found in hot and cold cereals and other foods.
Soluble fiber acts as a natural thickening agent in food.
This property observed in foods containing -glucan and other soluble fiber also occurs in our intestines. Soluble dietary fiber entraps fatty substances in the intestines preventing their absorption into the body, thus explaining how soluble dietary fiber may effectively lower blood cholesterol levels when consumed in adequate amounts. The largest amount of dietary fiber in our diets is insoluble. Insoluble fiber helps bind water in the intestine and expands the volume of the intestinal contents, resulting in more frequent and softer stools. The combined actions of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber are important in helping to maintain a healthy population of bacteria in our large intestines.