What’s the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber? Why is fiber indigestible? After all, isn’t cellulose just a string of glucose molecules, similar to amylose? What are some of the benefits of increasing fiber intake? How does fiber confer these benefits? What are some of the potential pitfalls of consuming excess fiber? How does fiber confer these detriments? What are the general recommendations for fiber intake? We refer to some of our fibers as prebiotics. What does that term really mean? How does a prebiotic aid gut health? Solution What’s the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber? ANS: In short soluble fibres dissolve in water and insoluble fibres do not. Soluble fibre makes our food more viscous when in a digestive tract. Soluble fibre traps food components thus making them less absorbable. Insoluble fibre absorbs water for example how dry sponge expands after soaking up water. Insoluble fibres are helpful in treating constipation. Why is fiber indigestible? After all, isn’t cellulose just a string of glucose molecules, similar to amylose? ANS: What makes fibre indigestible is the lack of enzymes in humans to break down the glycosidic bond in fibre. What are some of the benefits of increasing fiber intake? ANS: Benefits of fibre intake include: gastrointestinal disorders lowering cholesterol levels lowering the risk of colon cancer weight loss How does fiber confer these benefits? ANS: fibre has three mechanisms of action, which are bulking, viscosity and fermentation. Fibres can use all three mechanisms or only one. Bulking fibres absorb water and increase stool weight and regularity. Bulking fibres can be minimally fermented or not fermented. Viscous fibres thicken the content of the intestinal tract . They mix with water and form a gelatinous mass. Depending on the type of viscous fibre, they are minimally, partially, completely fermented or not fermented at all. Fermentable fibres are used as food source for the microbes that exist on our large intestine. What are some of the potential pitfalls of consuming excess fiber? ANS: As fibre is not digested, too much fibre causes the digestive tracts to process it slowly, it can lead to bloating, constipation, abdominal discomfort and gas. If constipation is prolonged, it can lead to intestinal blockage. during intestinal blockage there can be malabsorption and accumulations of toxins in the body..

1. What’s the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber?
Why is fiber indigestible? After all, isn’t cellulose just a string of glucose
molecules, similar to amylose?
What are some of the benefits of increasing fiber intake?
How does fiber confer these benefits?
What are some of the potential pitfalls of consuming excess fiber?
How does fiber confer these detriments?
What are the general recommendations for fiber intake?
We refer to some of our fibers as prebiotics. What does that term really mean? How does a
prebiotic aid gut health?
Solution
What’s the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber?
ANS: In short soluble fibres dissolve in water and insoluble fibres do not.
Soluble fibre makes our food more viscous when in a digestive tract. Soluble fibre traps food
components thus making them less absorbable. Insoluble fibre absorbs water for example how
dry sponge expands after soaking up water. Insoluble fibres are helpful in treating constipation.
Why is fiber indigestible? After all, isn’t cellulose just a string of glucose molecules, similar to
amylose?
ANS: What makes fibre indigestible is the lack of enzymes in humans to break down the
glycosidic bond in fibre.
What are some of the benefits of increasing fiber intake?
ANS: Benefits of fibre intake include:
gastrointestinal disorders
lowering cholesterol levels
lowering the risk of colon cancer
weight loss
How does fiber confer these benefits?
ANS: fibre has three mechanisms of action, which are bulking, viscosity and fermentation.
Fibres can use all three mechanisms or only one.
Bulking fibres absorb water and increase stool weight and regularity. Bulking fibres can be
minimally fermented or not fermented.
Viscous fibres thicken the content of the intestinal tract . They mix with water and form a
gelatinous mass. Depending on the type of viscous fibre, they are minimally, partially,

2. completely fermented or not fermented at all.
Fermentable fibres are used as food source for the microbes that exist on our large intestine.
What are some of the potential pitfalls of consuming excess fiber?
ANS: As fibre is not digested, too much fibre causes the digestive tracts to process it slowly, it
can lead to bloating, constipation, abdominal discomfort and gas. If constipation is prolonged, it
can lead to intestinal blockage. during intestinal blockage there can be malabsorption and
accumulations of toxins in the body.