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Lecture Notes

Dietary fiber is a term for a diverse carbohydrate polysaccharides of plants that cannot be digested by the human stomach. So, essentially, it's a special type of carbohydrate. And there are two forms of this: insoluble fiber and soluble fiber. And although it's not listed as one of the essential nutrients in our bodies, fiber intake has been associated with many health benefits, such as reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes.

And so like I said, there are two different forms—insoluble and soluble. The insoluble helps with elimination, keeps your colon healthy. In other words, it helps to keep you regular. It keeps things moving through your digestive system and through your colon.

The soluble fiber binds with cholesterol in your intestines and prevents it from being absorbed into your body. So instead of being absorbed, that cholesterol gets excreted, which is much better for you overall.

The sources of dietary fiber are numerous, but oftentimes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and many more.