Dan Martensen In a world obsessed with protein, be a fibre devotee. That’s what health experts now advise, because statistics reveal the sorry fact that 95 per cent of people are deficient in this essential dietary food. “It’s the closest thing we have to a superfood,” says Dr Emily Leeming, microbiome scientist and dietitian, whose new book Genius Gut is out soon. Why is fibre important for our health?
“It’s associated with a decreased risk of many diseases, like heart disease, type II diabetes and colorectal cancer. It helps to slow down the release of energy into the bloodstream, keeping your blood sugar levels steady so you stay feeling full and energised for longer,” she explains. Plus it also helps to sweep away build-up in your gut, which helps create a healthy environment.
In fact, the gut is where fibre has a significant impact, and when the gut is healthy, the rest of our body’s systems are more likely to be too. “You can’t digest fibre yourself, but your gut microbes can,” Dr Leeming explains. “Fibre feeds your gut bacteria, so that they are able make special healthy molecules called short-chain fatty acids, which help fight inflammation, look after the cells lining your gut, and keep your blood-brain barrier strong, helping to protect your brain from harmful molecules.”
Systemic inflammation is the culprit behind the majority of chronic diseases, and unfortunately our modern lifestyles – full of stress, processed food and sleeplessness – are a key cause. Increasing the amount of fibre we ingest by just five grams each day has been shown to reduce the risk of death by all causes (including stroke, cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular disease), by 14 per cent. While the minimum dietary requirement in the UK is 30g, our average intake is 18g. Put simply, we’ve got to make it our mission to boost our fibre intake if we want to prevent illness and poor health.
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