What is fibre?
The daily requirement of dietary fibre for adults is about 30 - 40 grams. About 70% of adults consume less than the recommended amount.
Dietary fibres are indigestible food components, mostly carbohydrates from plant sources. They are found in many cereals, fruits, vegetables and legumes. Dietary fibres are mainly known for their supportive effect with regard to the digestive process. Since they cannot be broken down by human cells, they remain in the gastrointestinal tract where they are used as food by the good intestinal bacteria. Dietary fibres can be divided into two types based on their properties and effects: (water)soluble and (water)insoluble dietary fibres.
"Fibre is an essential nutrient for the normal functioning of the gut. It is related to a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer."
- British Dietetic Association.
Soluble dietary fibre
Soluble dietary fibres mainly include pectin, inulin, oligofructose and other prebiotics. They are found in fruit or vegetables and act primarily as a swelling agent in the stomach: they can bind an enormous amount of water. A good example of this is chia seeds, which swell up in combination with water and become a jelly-like mass. At the same time, soluble dietary fibres promote a faster feeling of satiety because they increase the volume of the stomach contents. They are also a favourite food of the good intestinal bacteria and thus essential for the health and balance of the intestinal flora.
Insoluble dietary fibre
Insoluble dietary fibres are mainly cellulose and lignin. They are found primarily in whole grain products, mushrooms and legumes. Unlike soluble fibres, they are hardly broken down by our intestinal bacteria, so they remain whole, so to speak, and in this way increase the volume of the stomach. In addition, they do not bind water, so they are very firm and can exert considerable pressure on the inner walls of the stomach. Sounds unpleasant, but it is very beneficial for digestion: a good amount of insoluble dietary fibre stimulates intestinal movement.
Fibre focus: Inulin
Inulin is a water-soluble dietary fibre that serves as food for the "good" intestinal bacteria. As with all other dietary fibres, the same applies to inulin: the human body does not produce a digestive enzyme to process inulin. Inulin therefore passes through the stomach virtually undigested and can only be converted into fructose (=energy) by the intestinal bacteria in the large intestine. This degradation process takes place through fermentation, which is why inulin is also characterised as a fermentable dietary fibre. Healthy intestinal bacteria, e.g. bifidus bacteria, prefer fructose molecules as an energy source. They spread and thus displace pathogenic germs in the intestine, which contributes to a good balance of the intestinal flora.
Many vegetables and fruits naturally contain Inulin. These include parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, asparagus, salsify, artichokes, onions and garlic.
Best fibre-rich foods
The best way to increase your fibre intake is to eat vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These foods are particular fibre bombs:
- Carrots, peppers, beetroot, cabbage and fennel: between 2 and 5 g per 100 g.
- Legumes: over 7 g per 100 g.
- Salsify, Jerusalem artichoke, artichoke: between 10 and 18 g per 100 g.
- Berry fruits: 3 to 5 g per 100 g.
Caution
An unpleasant side effect of a high-fibre diet can be flatulence or a feeling of fullness, especially at the beginning. Start slowly, for example with one cup of lentils or oatmeal per day, until your intestines and digestion have become accustomed to it. Also, make sure to drink more with fibre-rich meals. This will help the water-soluble fibre to swell.
The easiest way to up your fibre intake
You'll love Gut Feeling, a mix with 6 plant-based ingredients that have been proven to have a positive effect on the digestive tract, including the two fibre bombs inulin from Jerusalem artichoke and pectin from apple. One spoonful already contains 4 g of dietary fibre and thus covers 10 % of the daily requirement.
