Dietary fibre is a type of carbohydrate that the human body cannot completely digest; it passes relatively intact through the digestive system and is excreted. Plant-based foods that are rich in fibre include fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
We’ve been taught that fibre helps to keep us ‘regular’; optimises the function of beneficial gut bacteria; and lowers the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, particularly colon cancer. Fibre can even facilitate weight loss, because it soaks up water in the gut and makes you feel full, which reduces your appetite.
Not all nutrition experts agree, however, that fibre is essential for wellbeing. In fact, some go so far as to argue that for many people fibre can be harmful.
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