Hey guys, this is Heather from healthyeatingstartshere.com. Today, I’m going to talk about soluble fiber
vs. insoluble fiber. Phil and I are staying at his parent’s place for a few weeks, and
we we’re lucky enough that her sister is visiting for the weekend.
She was actually asking me about soluble fiber vs. insoluble fiber so I’m going to talk
about that. The difference between soluble and insoluble is they both have benefits and
downsides, if you have too much of them in proportion to the other.
So we will start with soluble fiber. This is the kind of fiber that you can find in
flaxseeds, in nuts, in cilium and in oats. Soluble fiber is the type of fiber that absorbs
water, hence soluble. It will absorb a lot of water and its benefits include lowering
your cholesterol and regulate blood sugar.
That is why this is highly recommended in terms in preventing hearth disease and to
help with diabetes. But, it also have some drawbacks, and because it absorbs a tons of
water and if you eat them when it’s dry it will actually absorbs water from the walls
of you stomach and colon – if you don’t have plenty of water in your body.
A dehydrated colon is actually not good and doesn’t work so well. Things don’t actually
‘move’ like they’re supposed to move – you get what I mean. Getting too much
soluble fiber can be a problem actually.
Now, getting enough of this fiber is very, very helpful. If you go too far overboard
getting soluble fiber, it can cause some issues. The most prolific fiber is cilium. It’s
always recommended in cereals and stuff like that.
Cereals are dry, so keep that n mind of your eating one of those fiber cereals that has
cilium in it. Just make sure that you don’t eat too much and get a lot of water, get yourself
hydrated.
Insoluble fiber if the other types, which are generally found in vegetables, particularly
in the skins of fruits and vegetables. This is the kind that is what physically “pushing-things-through”
kind of fiber.
This is actually great to keep your bowel movement regular, which can also ensure that
things don’t sit around ion your colon. There are certain bacteria and toxins that
are produced in your gut that can be damaging to your body.
So, if you got more insoluble fiber, which will get to push things through quickly and
avoid those “things” to sit around in your colon and get into your body to do their
damage.
Both types are important. Getting to much of the other can be detrimental. The problem
with insoluble is that if you get too much, it can actually irritate your colon because
it is rough, especially if you have irritable bowel syndrome or something where your colon
walls are already irritated – it’s going to make it worst.
On those cases, it is actually better to get cooked vegetables because raw vegetables can
be very rough – soluble fiber vs. insoluble fiber, something to think about today.
My question for you guys is: Are you getting enough fiber, you think you are or do you
think you’re not. Let me know, leave me a comment and be sure to visit healthyeatingstartshere.com
for more info about nutrition.