What does dietary fiber refer to?

Dietary fiber is primarily defined as the part of plant-based food that the body cannot digest. This means that it reaches the large intestine largely intact, where it plays a key role in digestive health. Fiber can aid in maintaining regular bowel movements, preventing constipation, and promoting a healthy gut microbiome. It is found in a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

The correct choice highlights this important characteristic of dietary fiber, which showcases its role in the digestive system. Other options mistakenly associate dietary fiber with attributes such as high fat content, processed foods, or artificial sweeteners, none of which align with the defining properties of fiber itself. High-fat foods and processed foods may contain very little or no dietary fiber, and artificial sweeteners do not provide any fiber, as they are synthetic substitutes for sugar.