• Fiber sources
• What else? Vegetables!
• Fiber properties

There are many myths about fiber that definitively demonize its effects. It's becoming increasingly popular to doubt its impact on our physical health and well-being. Many people ask, "What are the benefits of a substance that isn't digested?" We answer: really great! Contrary to appearances, fiber is extremely valuable, which we'll try to prove today.

Dietary fiber, also known as roughage, is a plant-based substance found in cereals, among other foods. It's a mixture of cellulose, starch, pectin, and hemicellulose. While it's true that dietary fiber isn't digested by the digestive system, it's important to note that it's not unnecessary. Contrary to appearances, dietary fiber has a tremendous impact on digestive function and can therefore significantly contribute to improving our health and the success of our diet. So let's take a closer look at which products it's found in and what it offers us.

Fiber sources

As already mentioned, fiber is found in large quantities primarily in cereals . Therefore, it can be found in rye bread, wheat bran, wheat sprouts, or oat, barley, and cornflakes. Pulses, mainly lentils, white and red beans, peas, and soybeans, are also a rich source of fiber . Nuts and seeds are also essential , especially walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, sesame, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds.

What else? Vegetables !

Let's reach for parsley, celery, and Brussels sprouts. Let's not skip brown rice, barley groats, and fruits, especially dried ones . High amounts of fiber can be found in prunes, apricots, apples, and peaches, for example. However, keep in mind that these products are not sweetened. Let's focus on natural, unprocessed foods .

Fiber properties

The health benefits of fiber are endless. Insoluble fiber improves digestive function, for example, by increasing the feeling of fullness, which consequently prevents hunger and excessive snacking . It aids digestion and stimulates saliva secretion and also prevents cancers of the digestive system . Soluble fiber , on the other hand, prevents cholesterol from being absorbed into our bodies in large, harmful amounts and prevents the formation of gallstones. And that's not all! Natural fiber lowers blood sugar levels and thus protects against diabetes, combats constipation, facilitates effective detoxification, and facilitates fat elimination .

The above examples show that the diet of everyone (who isn't allergic to the above-mentioned products) should be rich in fiber. However, there are some people for whom consuming fiber-containing products is actually advisable. These include, for example, those with high blood pressure, diabetics, those with arteriosclerosis, and anyone who is overweight or obese.