Fast facts on fiber

Fiber, also known as roughage, is the indigestible part of plant foods that travels through our digestive system, absorbing water along the way and easing bowel movements.

Dietary fiber refers to nutrients in the diet that are not digested by gastrointestinal enzymes but still fulfil an important role.

Here are some key points about fiber.

• Fiber is often split into two types: soluble and insoluble.
• Dairy products and white bread have little to no fiber.
• Cereal grains, seeds, vegetables, and fruits are good sources of fiber.
• Fiber helps speed up the elimination of toxic waste through the colon.
• Oat cereals, brussels sprouts, oranges, flax seeds, and beans, such as kidney, black, and pinto, are all good sources of soluble fiber.