Guest guest Posted July 25, 2005 Report Share Posted July 25, 2005 **************************************************** Q: Could you please explain the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber? A: This is a good question because all fiber is not the same. And, if you are part of the 10 to 20 percent of adult Americans who have irritable bowel syndrome, it is especially important to know the difference. Soluble fiber slows the digestion of food, giving the body time to absorb nutrients. It prolongs the time food stays in the stomach, helping sugar to be released and absorbed more slowly into your systems. Insoluble fiber passes through your bodies largely intact, increasing the speed at which food moves through the stomach and intestines. Most of the foods people think of as high in fiber, such as whole wheat, bran products, and raw, leafy green vegetables, are actually high in insoluble fiber Soluble fiber foods are those more commonly thought of as starches, like oatmeal, barley, rice cereals, corn meal, and potatoes. But soluble fiber is also found in carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, turnips, beets, squash, pumpkins, mushrooms, chestnuts, avocados, bananas, oranges, applesauce, and mangos. Most physicians believe that eating foods rich in soluble fiber helps prevent symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and relieve them if they do occur. On the other hand, foods containing insoluble fiber seem to cause problems for those with gastrointestinal problems. **************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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