Fascinating fibre facts
Did you know....?
- Fibre is only found in food from plants e.g. fruit and veg, seeds, grains, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, oats, beans, peas and lentils.
- Fibre helps prevent constipation and clears the gut so that nasty substances don’t hang around for so long.
- Fibre can help to reduce blood cholesterol.
And because foods with fibre fill us up for longer, we’re much less likely to overeat.
Read more about why fibre is important, on NHS Choices
Take it easy
If you suddenly increase the amount of fibre that you eat, it can make you feel quite uncomfortable – you might produce more wind, feel bloated, or have stomach cramps. So while fibre is still very good for you, it’s best to increase your intake gradually.
If you have plenty of fibre in your diet, make sure you drink plenty of fluid each day – more when you’re exercising or during hot weather.