Getting an adequate fibre intake becomes even more important during weight loss and weight maintenance. Fibre increases the feeling of fullness. HOW?
Foods high in fibre are often bulky and therefore filling. Soluble fibre absorbs water in your digestive tract which slows down the emptying of the stomach and the transit time of food through the digestive system. This extends the time a person feels satisfied or ‘full’.
Dietary fibre is found in cereals, fruits and vegetables and it is made up of the indigestible parts of plants which pass mostly unchanged through the digestive system. Fibre intake is most important for optimal bowel health by improving regularity and also contributes to other processes in the body such as stabilising glucose levels. The recommended daily fibre intake is 30g and most Australians do not meet this fibre intake eating on average only 18-25g of fibre per day.
Foods with more than 3g fibre per serve are classed as ‘high fibre’ and should be consumed with lots of fluid which is imperative to the digestive process. In fact increasing fibre intake without increasing how much you drink may cause constipation.
