Fill Up On Fibre

We’ve Long Been Told To Add More Roughage To Our Diet, But How Exactly Does It Benefit Our Health? Here’S What You Need To Know

- Elli Jacobs

As we learn more about gut health, weight management and disease prevention, the more important dietary fibre seems to become for our wellbeing. Here experts share how we can up our fibre intake and make the most of it for our health.

With the expanding evidence-based health research on dietary fibre it’s proving vital to incorporate a range of fibres into our diet, as different types provide different benefits to our many body systems.

“Dietary fibre, also known as roughage, is the indigestible component of plant foods, meaning our bodies are unable to break it down or have it be absorbed by our intestines, leaving it to bind with our systems waste products and eliminated through the proper channels,” explains Bec Norris, accredited practising dietician and founder of Be Well Fed.

Promotes hormonal balance

High-fibre foods tend to be lower on the glycaemic index than refined carbs, reducing the likelihood of blood-sugar spikes and other hormonal imbalances.

“If your blood-sugar levels are high, the hormone insulin is secreted into your cells in order to lower the amount of glucose circulating in your bloodstream, which has been linked to higher oestrogen levels,” explains naturopath Chantelle Bell.

“But foods high in insoluble fibre will balance blood sugar levels by slowing down their release into our bloodstream,” says Chantelle. “In instances of excess oestrogen levels, the same fibre will also support the liver to detox fat-soluble waste related to oestrogen,

Controls weightand can also allow ovulation to occur in instances when ovulation doesn’t occur.” Studies have linked high-fibre foods, mainly from veges, to a reduced risk of breast cancer,likely mediated by the effect of fibreon lowering circulating oestrogen levels.