they’ve been likened to vitamins. They vary in function and amount needed, but all contribute to better health.
Common thinking has been that soluble fiber, typically found in oats and in legumes like peas and lentils, helps lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar, while insoluble fiber, found in wheat bran and fruit and vegetables, helps keep you regular.
Turns out that it’s not quite so black and white. Some soluble fibers like oat bran and psyllium do both jobs, while others don’t seem to affect cholesterol. That’s why getting a mix through a varied diet makes the most sense. But it’s also important to get enough fiber every day.
While eating lots of fruit and vegetables is good for many reasons, realize that even eating the skins contributes only slightly to meeting daily fiber needs. Try to increase and vary the total amount of fiber-rich foods you eat by adding whole grains like wheat, oats, rye, barley, millet and buckwheat, along with legumes, nuts and seeds.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends 25 grams of