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