Add up to 25 grams of fibre per day!

A diet that’s high in fibre is good for your health!

High-fibre diets, those containing adequate amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes can help to keep your digestive system healthy, protect you against coronary heart disease, lower your blood cholesterol, stabilize your blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of several cancers, in particular colon cancer. Eating food that’s high in fibre can also help if you’re trying to lose weight since they make you feel full for longer periods.

If you don’t consume enough!

Eating a diet low in fibre can contribute to many health disorders including bowel problems such as constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, irritable bowel and weight gain. In general, people who consume low fibre diets are indirectly more prone to high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer.

How much do you need?

It is recommended that adults consume 20 to 35 grams of fibre per day.

How to increase your fibre intake?

Below are some tips to increase your fibre intake:

• Try changing from white bread to wholegrain or multi-grain bread.
• Substitute white rice and pasta with brown rice and whole- wheat pasta and choose whole-grain breakfast cereals.
• Try to fit in at least 5 serves of veggies and 2 serves of fruit every day, with the edible skin on.
• Start your meals with a salad and incorporate some vegetable soups and stews in your main meals.
• Plan to eat legumes (beans, lentils) two to three times a week.
• Include a handful of nuts or dried fruits as a healthy afternoon snack.

Remember!

When you are planning on increasing the amount of fibre you eat, it may be wise to increase it slowly to reduce bloating and gas. Fibre needs to absorb water to help it pass through your system, so remember to drink plenty of water too!