What Does Fiber Do to Your Body?

You’ve heard all about how important fiber is. Doctors tell you to get it into your diet through your food as much as possible; that you need it for your digestive system to work properly. They even tell you the best types of foods to eat to make sure you get the right type of fiber.

What many doctors don’t tell you is exactly what fiber will do to your body. You don’t get to learn about the two types of fiber and what they will help with. Doctors also refrain from telling you some of the negatives of getting fiber – or too much of it – in your diet.

So, here’s a look at everything you need to know about fiber and what it does to your body. It’s time to make sure you only get the best amount to support your body fully.

Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber to Support the Body

There are two types of fiber that you will get in your diet. They are soluble and insoluble fiber. Both offer different benefits and are needed for different reasons. Yes, you will need to get both types to focus on a healthy and balanced diet and support your digestive system fully.

Soluble fiber is as it sounds: it dissolves in water. Your digestive system has water within it, which means the fiber will dissolve and work by being absorbed into other parts of the body. One of those is through cholesterol levels. When you get more fiber, there are possibilities that your cholesterol levels in the blood will reduce. Fiber doesn’t discriminate between good and bad cholesterol.

Insoluble fiber is the type that you will find in bran, whole grains, cereals, and most nuts and seeds.