A healthy diet includes foods with a high percent of daily value of dietary fiber. Daily values are listed for people who eat between two thousand and two thousand five hundred calories each day. Also known as roughage, dietary fiber can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber should be included in your total intake. Good sources of soluble fiber are oat bran, barley, beans, peas, apples, and citrus fruits. Fatty acids that are absorbed into the bloodstream and appear to play a role in lowering cholesterol levels are formed when soluble fiber breaks down in the digestive tract. Good sources of insoluble fiber are wheat bran, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Insoluble fiber helps prevent and control intestinal problems. For more information on fiber and your diet, contact a health care professional.
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