| At one point in time, when you went to the | | | | Soluble fiber is getting large amounts of |
| health food store you usually only had choice | | | | research reviews. One study concluded that |
| of wheat bran, which is a good source of the | | | | people who ate the least fiber are 63% more |
| insoluble fiber that helps your digestive | | | | likely to have high levels of CRP (C-reactive |
| system stay on track, or oat bran, which | | | | protein). CRP is an inflammation marker that |
| contains the soluble fiber that helps lower | | | | is associated with cardiovascular risk. |
| cholesterol. Although both of these bran's | | | | Another study proved that flax seed improved |
| are still popular, as they have good reason | | | | glucose control. Another fiber source, |
| to be, remaining excellent sources of dietary | | | | psyllium, has been shown to bring relief to |
| fiber, these days store shelves are gathering | | | | people with Chron's disease, an inflammatory |
| more and more fiber supplements ranging from | | | | intestinal disorder. |
| encapsulated forms to powders and specialized | | | | |
| to deal with a variety of health concerns. | | | | Flax seed and psyllium are two of the best |
| | | | known types of soluble fiber available, but |
| Insoluble fiber has the ability to draw water | | | | there are other types that aren't as well |
| into the intestines, preventing constipation | | | | known. Others including arabinogalactan (AG) |
| and keeping waste matter from decaying within | | | | have been shown to have a special affinity |
| the body. However, it is the many types of | | | | for natural killer cells. Beta-glucans are |
| soluble fiber that science has recently | | | | another form of fiber that can help boost |
| started investigating for health benefits. | | | | immunity. Lignans, which are found in flax, |
| Part of soluble fiber's value is closely | | | | have been shown to cause lower breast-cancer |
| related to its mechanical action, as it forms | | | | rates. Fenugreek is a spice that is rich in |
| a thick gel within the digestive track that | | | | galactomannan, a heart-healthy fiber. Some |
| moves slowly to stop sugar from entering the | | | | fiber formulations pair up different kinds of |
| body too quickly, therefore, helping to keep | | | | fiber with complementary herbs. An example of |
| glucose levels down and carrying some fat and | | | | this is Garcinia cambogia and Gymnema |
| sugar out of the body completely. | | | | sylvestre, which can be used for glucose |
| Additionally, when soluble fibers gel up it | | | | control; or astragalus, echinacea, olive |
| helps to reduce blood level cholesterol by | | | | leaf, and shiitake to assist the immune |
| trapping bile preventing the bile from doing | | | | system. Some supplements even provide natural |
| its action (breaking down fats in the | | | | enzymes which help prevent bloating. |
| digestive tract so the body can absorb it). | | | | |
| Unlike insoluble fiber, soluble fiber | | | | It is, of course, important to eat a healthy |
| undergoes fermentation inside the colon to | | | | and well-balanced diet. However, thanks to |
| produce fatty acids that do a little bit of | | | | supplementation that is designed specifically |
| everything, including: helping the body | | | | for certain health concerns, it has become |
| digest food, protecting against polyps, | | | | much easier to find the additional fiber that |
| stimulating immunity, increasing mineral | | | | is needed by your body, no matter what kind |
| absorption, and helping to keep cholesterol | | | | of fiber that is. A large selection of fiber |
| and glucose levels in check. | | | | bran supplements can be found at your local |
| | | | or internet health food store. |