Fiber is a group of different kinds of plant-based carbohydrates that affect our gastrointestinal tract in myriad ways:

• fiber can be soluble (meaning it dissolves in water);
•  viscose (gel-forming);
• fermentable (bacteria can metabolize it).

Eating a fiber-rich diet is associated with better gastrointestinal health and a reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes, high cholesterol, obesity, type 2 diabetes, even some cancers. Fiber slows the absorption of glucose — which evens out our blood sugar levels — and also lowers cholesterol and ...

Instead of munching on fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds, more than half of the calories Americans consume come from ultra-processed foods. On any given day, nearly 40 percent of Americans eat fast food. These prepared and processed meals tend to be low in fiber, or even fiber free. ...