Fibre plays a key role in digestion and is incredibly important in the body. But don’t just take our word for it – today we have Registered Associate Nutritionist Hannah Cartwright (@livewellwithhan) sharing her knowledge on why we should all be eating more fibre!
We all know that fibre keeps our digestive system regular, but the benefits of gut health go beyond our digestion. Good gut health is linked to the health of our skin, heart, brain, mental health, weight management, lowering cholesterol levels and also reduces the risk of illnesses including certain cancers and diabetes.
Did you know that 70% of our immune system is found along our digestive tract? To reduce the chances of common colds, sick days at work and the risk of developing autoimmune conditions, it is absolutely vital to keep our gut happy. Research has shown that an increase of 8g of fibre each day reduces the risk of colon cancer by 8%, type 2 diabetes by 15% and the risk of heart disease by 18%.
Our microbes (gut bacteria) thrive on diversity which is why we need to focus on eating a variety of fibre sources. We should aim to include 30 different plant-based foods each week – which is easier than you think. It could include a sprinkle of seeds on your meal or opting for the variety multi pack of veg instead or choosing a different fruit from last week’s supermarket shop. On average in the UK, most people are getting about 16g of fibre a day – a long way off from the recommended 30g.
4 in 10 people suffer from gut issues and 60% of people suffer from bloating. While fibre can really help to improve these symptoms, it should be incorporate into your diet slowly and gradually, while making sure to drink enough water too!
Why not start your day with a bowl of our Cinnamon Sultana Granola, which packs 5g of fibre per serving? You could add a handful of fruit and a sprinkle of seeds to up the fibre content even more!
