LIVINGLIVING MAKING CARBS COUNT
We often hear how important it is to enjoy a diet high in fibre. We look
at the benefits and show some easy ways to get more of the good
stuff into your daily diet. By Angela Coffey
FEEL-GOOD FIBRE
Super popu is an all-round
friend to us. As well as
keeping everything moving
down there and keeping
our digestive system tiptop, fibre-rich
foods included in a healthy,
balanced diet are thought to help maintain
our weight, while soluble fibre (see below)
slows down how fast sugar is absorbed
into our blood - helping to keep sugar
highs at bay. Not only that, according
to the European Food Safety Authority,
keeping your diet high in fibre can reduce
your risk of cardiovascular disease (heart
disease and stroke), Type 2 diabetes and
bowel cancer.
There's even more: Some types of
fibre also help gut bacteria produce
helpful chemicals that can have beneficial
effects on the bowel, and a fibre-rich
diet can help to increase our gut's good
bacteria. Some fibre even acts as a food
source for 'friendly' gut bacteria helping
them to increase and produce protective
substances, such as short-chain fatty
acids.
Guidelines recommend 30g of fibre a
day for people aged 17 and over, but it's
thought people have far less at just 17g
a day. So, if you're looking to increase