The Importance Of Fibre

Most people understand that fibre is an important part of a well balanced diet, but did you know that both soluble and insoluble fibre also play an important role in weight management? Fibre, which consists of plant cells that don’t break down in the digestive system, helps to bulk food up by absorbing water.

Foods with a high fibre content produce a feeling of fullness or satiety, helping to prevent hunger pangs. Gram for gram, fibre-rich foods contain fewer calories than other foods as their fibre content passes straight through the digestive tract and cannot be absorbed or contribute to weight gain.

When the bulked-up food reaches the large intestine, it is easily moved along by the pulsing motions of the intestinal walls, preventing constipation. Since toxins produced by putrefaction (rotting) of foods are in contact with the intestinal walls for a shorter period of time, the risk of intestinal diseases, including cancer, is also reduced. How much fibre should you aim to consume? Adult diets should contain at least 20 grams of dietary fibre a day. Most Canadians consume between 3 and 10 grams daily. Fibre-rich foods include whole grain cereals and breads, strawberries, apples, yams, prunes, figs, broccoli, beans and lentils.

You can find a number of fibre-rich cereals, many of them organic, in the food aisles at London Drugs. Kashi* Go-Lean* cereal, for example, contains 5 grams of dietary fibre, 13 grams of protein and only 250 calories per serving. Kellogs* All-Bran Buds* contains 12 grams of dietary fibre per serving and 130 calories (both served with half a cup of 1 percent milk).