How does soluble fiber in fennel positively affect cholesterol levels?
Binds with bile acids, promoting cholesterol excretion
The dietary fiber present in fennel, particularly the soluble fiber component, offers a specific benefit to heart health through its interaction within the digestive system related to cholesterol management. Soluble fiber possesses the chemical capacity to bind to bile acids while they are present in the gut. Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and aid in fat digestion. When these acids are bound by fiber, the body cannot reabsorb them into the bloodstream; instead, they must be excreted from the body. To replenish the depleted bile acids, the liver is forced to pull cholesterol from the circulating blood supply to synthesize new bile acids, which consequently leads to a reduction in levels of LDL, often termed "bad" cholesterol.
