The Benefits of Soluble Fiber

If you’ve been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal condition and are experiencing symptoms, you may feel nervous about adding fiber to your diet. But knowing which type of fiber to reintroduce or how to reintroduce it may impact how your body tolerates fiber. 

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Let’s first review the two types of fiber:

1. Soluble fiber: this type of fiber forms a gel-like substance that slows down digestion. It also helps “bulk up” your stool, which is very useful for those experiencing loose bowel movements. Starting to add food sources of soluble fiber very slowly is a great approach if your body isn’t used to having it. 
2. Insoluble fiber: this type of fiber helps stool move through the GI tract and out of the body. Insoluble fiber can help get things moving for those managing constipation. Slowly adding in sources of insoluble fiber is a great approach to take if you hadn’t tried eating more of these foods before. 

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Certain foods may be richer in one fiber versus the other. So, it’s helpful to start by choosing 1 or 2 of those specific foods to slowly add into your diet. 

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Make fluids your friend.

The other unsung hero who works well with fiber is fluid! Be sure to stay hydrated during the day to ensure fiber takes its greatest effect! 

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Do you have questions about how best to approach introducing these foods into your diet? Your dietitian is always here to help!

Read more about the food sources for these two types of fiber with our resource titled Food Sources of Soluble and Insoluble Fiber!