You absolutely need fibre. It does wonders for your body, your digestive system and your weight management efforts.
But you probably don’t get as much of it as you should.
Fibre works because your body can’t digest it. That means it helps keep your entire digestive system clean as it passes through. And that’s just one of its many benefits:
- Absorbs fatty substances
- Slows down digestion to keep you feeling fuller longer
- Gets rid of cholesterol
- Reduces constipation
- Contains no calories!
Soluble and Insoluble Fibre
You get fibre from the complex carbohydrates in fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. Different fibres help your body in different ways. Fibre is usually divided into two broad ranges: soluble and insoluble, each one offering its own benefits.
Like the name implies, soluble fibre dissolves in water. They are found in oats and barley; legumes (beans, peas and lentils); some seeds; brown rice; some fruits, like apples; and some vegetables, including potatoes, carrots and broccoli.
As they pass through your system, soluble fibres break down into a gel-like substance, which traps things like cholesterol. It has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and spikes in diabetics by increasing the time that food takes to be absorbed by the stomach.
As you might have guessed, insoluble fibres don’t dissolve in water. Instead, they absorb it, which makes them heavier and speeds up their passage through your system, thereby relieving constipation and helping to keep you regular.
Wheat bran, whole grains, and the skins of many fruits, vegetables and seeds are great sources of insoluble fibre.
How to Get the Fibre You Need
It’s recommended that adults get between 25 and 40 grams of fibre a day. So what happens if you’re not a big fan of many high-fibre foods? Fibre supplements are a great way to get the fibre you need and none are better than Herbal One’s Fibre One.
Each supplement cap gives you five grams of fibre that is tasteless when dissolved in liquid. And that gives you many more ways to add fibre to your diet.
- Add fibre when cooking to get it from a wider variety of foods
- Put it into soups and sauces
- Add it to your favourite beverage
Your nutritional consultant can give you recipes and ideas to get the right amount of fibre and help you to better manage your weight.