05/08/2021                                                                            
                                    
                                                                            
                                            WHY YOU NEED FIBRE IN YOUR DIET
Increasing your fibre intake may – at first – seem like a bit of a contradiction. On the one hand, fibre not typically absorbed very well by the body. Why eat more of something that your body can’t absorb? On the other hand, if your diet lacks fibre, you will definitely know about it. Let’s take a closer look at why you need fibre.
WHY YOU NEED FIBRE
The benefits of fibre can best be studied by looking at what diets lacking in fibre can cause versus the benefits that diets rich in fibre offer. Diets low in fibre can lead to a number of health conditions, ranging from constipation and weight gain to fatigue and blood sugar fluctuations. Diets high in fibre generally lead to  much better overall health, weight management, more regular bowel movements, better digestion and a reduced risk of a range of serious diseases.
THE 2 TYPES OF FIBRE
There are two types of dietary fibre that are both subtly different, yet both are important for overall health.
1. SOLUBLE FIBRE
Soluble fibre can be digested by your body, but usually very slowly compared to other carbohydrates. As a result, when you eat a diet rich in soluble fibre, the soluble fibre is digested slowly and can lead to more sustained energy and constant blood sugar levels after eating. High fibre diets can also help with weight loss, as the slow digestion of soluble fibre leads to longer feeling of fullness that may prevent snacking and a more prolonged energy release.
WHY YOU NEED SOLUBLE FIBRE
Soluble fibre may help with:
cholesterol management
controlling blood sugar levels
inflammatory bowel conditions
GOOD SOURCES OF SOLUBLE FIBRE
Oats
nuts
seeds
peas
Vegetables
2. INSOLUBLE FIBRE
We have established that soluble fibre can be digested, albeit slowly. Insoluble fibre, on the other hand, remains largely undigested as it passes through your digestive tract. Just because it is not digested does not mean it doesn’t play a critical role in digestion and overall health. During digestion, insoluble fibre passes through to the intestine, bringing water with it. This increases bulk and hydration of waste products. In short, this helps you go to the bathroom more regularly and the additional water in your waste helps you avoid constipation. Insoluble fibre can also help promote a feeling of fullness for those looking to lose weight / reduce snacking.
WHY YOU NEED INSOLUBLE FIBRE
Insoluble Fibre may help with:
maintaining regular bowel movement
weight management
GOOD SOURCES OF INSOLUBLE FIBRE
leafy green vegetables
root vegetables
carrots
raisins
SUPERFOODS FOR FIBRE
Super Chia Seeds not only contains double the amount of fibre than oats, they also contain both soluble and insoluble fibre, so are a great way to top up your dietary fibre levels. Try them if you are actively looking for an easy way to increase your fibre intake.
FINAL TIPS FOR INCREASING FIBRE
Adults need to get 25 to 30g of fibre each day. Most Australians do not get this much fibre. If you are struggling to get enough fibre in your diet, a fibre supplement like our Adult Fibre VitaGummies may offer some benefit.
Sudden increases in dietary fibre may cause abdominal pain or flatulence. If you currently have a low fibre diet and are trying to increase your fibre levels, do so gradually over the course of several weeks.
Finally, increasing your fibre intake may require an increase in the amount of water you need to drink in a day. Since you pass more water as waste in a high fibre diet, increasing fibre intake may bring increased risk  of dehydration. Dry mouth, increased thirst, headache or dark coloured urine are all signs you may be dehydrated and need to drink more water.
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This article was provided by our online health partner Health365.