In terms of the public health significance of these findings, it is practical to achieve a significant increase in dietary fiber when more cereal-based foods are included. There are particular forms of NSP that are capable of lowering plasma cholesterol concentrations when substituted for the more commonly ingested wheat-based foods. We found that barley foods were very acceptable alternatives. There are a variety of foods that can be prepared from suitable strains of appropriately milled barley, and modern technology offers the means of overcoming any previous limitations in palatability or acceptability of such foods.