Fibre is one of those things that many of us know is important but it still remains a bit of a mystery
Exactly what is it?
Basically, the term fibre refers to carbohydrates that cannot be digested. Fibre is present in all plants that are eaten for food, including fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes (beans, peas and lentils).
However, not all fibre is the same and there are a number of ways to categorise it. One is by its source or origin. For example, fibre from grains is referred to as cereal fibre. Another way of categorising fibre is by how easily it dissolves in water. Soluble fibre partially dissolves in water. Insoluble fibre does not dissolve in water.
So, how much should I take?
- Government guidelines suggest that adults should consume 30 grams of dietary fibre per day as part of a healthy balanced diet. On a daily average, the adult population eat only 18 grams of dietary fibre.
- A slice of GG Bran Crispbread has just over 4 grams of dietary fibre, if you eat just 4 slices per day, that provides over half of the recommended intake of dietary fibre.
- GG Bran Crispbread is 85% bran, the highest bran content of any crispbread available.
- Fibre appears to reduce the risk of developing various conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, diverticular disease and constipation:
- In the United Kingdom, coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women.
- Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is characterised by sustained high blood sugar levels. There are several important factors that may help lower your risk for type 2 diabetes such as maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and not smoking. Researchers are also trying to pinpoint any relevant dietary factors, one of which seems to be a high fibre diet.
- Fibre has long been used in the prevention of diverticulitis, an inflammation of the intestine.
- Constipation is a common gastrointestinal complaint and is of particular concern to the elderly. The fibre in wheat bran and oat bran seems to be more effective than similar amounts of fibre from fruits and vegetables.
