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In the past few years, fiber has received a great deal of well justified attention from nutritional scientists throughout the world. In addition to its impressive known benefits, research--now underway--may shed light on its possible role in preventing certain types of cancer, heart disease and other ailments too common in Western civilization. Yet few people really understand what fiber is and why it is so important to your health and well-being.

Many people think of fiber as roughage or bulky material which must be eaten in large quantities. In actual fact, in its purest form, fiber is a powder and very little pure fiber is required every day. The reason for this lies in its ability to absorb many times its own weight in water. Thus, a small amount creates an effective bulk in your intestines where it acts as an intestinal regulator, maintaining a smooth flow of nutrients with proper opportunity for their absorption. Fiber itself is not a nutrient--it passes through the intestines intact while the nutrients with it absorb into the body.

A misconception shared by most people is that all fiber is pretty much the same. In fact, there are a great many different fibers from different sources with individual characteristics. They all come from one of three natural sources: grain, vegetable and fruit.

As a crude fiber, psyllium seeds have twice the bulking capacity of bran without its tendency to rob you of essential nutrients. That is why many doctors recommend psyllium-based products for ordinary constipation instead of laxatives. Constipation, in an otherwise normal person, is an almost certain indication of inadequate fiber intake and an improperly functioning gastro-intestinal system. You should not take a laxative that is going to roar through your system overnight like an intestinal rotor-rooter. ...