Women's Health
Ask the doctor: What are the differences between soluble and insoluble fiber?
Q. I enjoyed your article on diverticular disease and the fiber content of various foods. However, could you make some distinctions between soluble and insoluble fiber? Some fiber makes me feel very bloated.
A. Dietary fiber, sometimes referred to as roughage, consists of the indigestible parts of plant foods. As you note, there are two kinds. Soluble fiber dissolves in water; insoluble does not. Both are important for healthy digestion; both can help prevent not only diverticulitis and constipation but also heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
