The effect of fiber

Fiber is not a single food, but rather an indigestible complex carbohydrate. Since the body cannot absorb it, it has in itself no calories. Nevertheless, fibers called cellulose and hemicelluloses take up space in the stomach, making us feel full and therefore landing the top spot of calorie counters’ friends.

But before we hand out the gold medal, let’s have a closer look at this champion. It turns out, namely, that not all fiber comes with the same benefits. For example, bran will mostly get you larger and softer tools. This kind of fiber "bulks up" waste and moves it through the colon more rapidly, which is not a bad thing, but probably not what you were looking for.

Strangely, the fat-fighting property of fiber is found in gums and pectin's. They keep cholesterol under control by removing bile acids that digest fat. The same types of fiber may regulate blood sugar as well. This is accomplished by coating the gut's lining and causing the previously mentioned delay in stomach emptying.