Types of fiber
There are two types of fiber:
- Insoluble fiber
- Soluble fiber
Most of the fiber-containing foods include both the types, but usually one type often predominates the other and this in turn determines the characteristic texture of that food item.
Soluble fiber
These include pectins, gums, mucilages and hemicelluloses. Sources of these are oats, legumes, barley, guar gum, apple, carrot and citrus fruits.
Insoluble fiber
These consist of celluloses, lignin and some of the hemicelluloses. Sources of these are whole-wheat flour, bran, vegetables, whole grains and fruits with edible seeds.