Fiber Facts: What You Should Know About Soluble & Insoluble Fiber by Jennifer Young

Fiber can be soluble or insoluble. Both are good for your health, but they have different jobs. 

• Soluble fiber attracts and dissolves in water. This forms a gel and slows down digestion, which may help us feel fuller, longer. 
• Insoluble fiber doesn't dissolve in water, it stays pretty much intact, helping move food and waste in our intestines and preventing constipation, like a laxative. 

Staying hydrated is important, because fiber can have a reverse effect and block us up. Soluble fiber can be found in oatmeal, lentils and carrots, and insoluble fiber in broccoli, onions and grapes, just to name a few. 

Good Sources of Soluble Fiber

• legumes
• grains
• fruits
• vegetables
• flaxseeds

Good Sources of Insoluble Fiber

• whole grains
• beans 
• legumes
• raspberries

What's your favorite high-fiber food?