Carbohydrates can be broken down into three categories: sugar, starch, and fibre. Of these, sugars are the easiest for the body to use for fuel, starch takes a little work but can also be broken down and used for fuel, but fibre is not broken down by the body or used as fuel. So why is it so important for our health?
Fibre is what keeps our digestion moving. There are two types of fibre. Soluble, which binds with water to create a gel-like substance (think of it like oatmeal), and insoluble, which is the “roughage” portion found mostly in skins and seeds of plants (think of it like celery).
Insoluble fibre’s most important role is to promote bowel regularity. It does this by providing bulk to the stool, which keeps waste moving through the digestive tract. Without it, digestion slows down, we reabsorb too much water from the stool, and we get constipated.
Regular bowel movements are essential for the elimination of toxins from the body. We should be having at least one fully evacuated, easy-to-pass bowel movement daily. Constipation causes autointoxication, where metabolites are reabsorbed from the colon back into the blood stream, leading to a build-up of harmful toxins in the body. Constipation can also lead to hemorrhoids, abdominal pain and damage to the bowel, and autointoxication can cause fatigue, hormonal imbalance, brain fog, and low mood.
Insoluble fibre is also important for keeping us full after eating because it takes up space in the digestive system. It curbs cravings and promotes feelings of satiety to help us maintain a healthy weight.
Canadian guidelines recommend that women have 25g of fibre daily and men aim for 38g of fibre, but most people are getting less than half of their daily recommended intake. Part of the problem is a misconception of which foods contain the most fibre. The biggest misconceptions are with veggies and fruits: they are part of a healthy diet, but they don’t have as much fibre as we think they do! For example, one cup of spinach has 0.7g of fibre, and one apple has 3g of fibre. There is much more fibre found in seeds and skins of foods, for example 1 Tbsp of chia seeds has a whopping 5.5g of fibre.
Fibre is an integral part of a healthy diet, but it can be challenging to get enough from the diet alone. DAILY FIBRE BLEND provides healthy boost of fibre that can be easily added to meals and snacks. It contains 3g of fibre per serving, and is non-GMO, Certified Organic, and free from additives. DAILY FIBRE BLEND promotes bowel health and regularity, keeps us feeling satiated, and is a source of antioxidants to protect cells from damage.
