Dietary fiber is an essential part of our daily diet, yet many of us end up coming up short at the end of the day. Part of the reason for this may be that we are not completely aware of the different types of dietary fiber and what foods we can find them in. You may be surprised to learn the differences between the types of fiber and the many foods that we can find them in.

There are two main types of dietary fiber:

1. Soluble Fiber – this is the kind of fiber that is dissolved in water. When it is dissolved it develops into a gel or viscous material that acts as sort of a trap for fatty substances. It forms the consistency of a gel and acts like a plug in the digestive tract that traps in the fatty content of foods. The fatty foods stick to soluble fiber and it is then able to be passed through your digestive system more efficiently and eliminated. Food sources in which you can find soluble fiber include oats, barley, rye, bananas, apples, berries, peas and soybeans.
2. Insoluble Fiber – This kind of fiber is also known as roughage. It earned this nickname because of the way it does not dissolve in water and helps things move through your digestive tract easier than without out. Insoluble fiber acts as an absorbing agent that attracts the items to it and absorbs the water in the digestive system, which builds bulk. This bulk is then easily moved through the digestive tract and out of the body. Food sources that you can find insoluble fiber include whole grains, whole wheats, bran, nuts, seeds, green beans, carrots, celery, cauliflower and potatoes.

Whatever foods you choose to get your daily-recommended amount of fiber from, remember that is always best to eat a variety of whole grains, fresh fruits and a variety of different colors of fresh vegetables.