In addition to decreasing risk of cancer, fiber is associated with heart health and helping manage diabetes! Soluble fibers may help lower the level of LDL cholesterol, thereby lowering total blood cholesterol. During transit through the small intestine, soluble fiber binds to cholesterol-rich bile acids which are then excreted by the body. This reduces the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed, causing the body to have to pull cholesterol from the blood to create more bile acids, replacing those that were excreted. With regards to diabetes, soluble fiber helps to manage blood sugars to be more stable and rise more slowly after meals. The idea is that soluble fibers lower blood sugar by mixing with fluids in the stomach to make the contents more viscous and gooey, thereby delaying the digestion time. The fiber in carbohydrates also causes sugar to be released slower, resulting in a slower rise of blood glucose levels after a meal.