Dietary fiber may play a role to modulate the immune system and therefore produce a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. We know that cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity have underlying inflammatory processes. The most promising benefit that is receiving more and more attention is fiber's role in immune health. There are a number of health benefits for fiber. Scientific evidence links fiber intake to a plethora of health benefits, including treating and preventing constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis decreasing blood cholesterol levels, which protects against certain forms of cancer and increasing satiety to help control weight. Many areas of nutrition tend to elicit controversy, but dietary fiber is usually not one of them. Today's Dietitian is doing its part to push the fiber intake of Americans with its fabulous list of the highest fiber foods people should be eating today.
