Let’s Talk Fibre CELL FOOD
AIM Herbal Fiberblend By Charlotte Meschede - Nutritionist
If there is one tip I could give everyone after my more than 40 years of experience in the nutritional field, then it is to simply LOOK AFTER YOUR GUT. Many people ignore bowel and gut health until it is too late. I’ve had many patients over the years that come in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with seemingly otherwise good health, except for gut issues. Regular bowel habits begin in infancy, so making sure your baby does not have these issues from the beginning is imperative. If you do have imbalances in your bowel habits, then it is never too late to start correcting the problem.
of soluble fibre, is that it ‘traps’ cholesterol that is present in food and prevents it from being absorbed, so therefore having enough soluble fibre in your diet is also crucial to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
How does fibre help?
Soluble fibre will also entrap bile, which is produced by the liver to aid in the breakdown of fats. The body uses cholesterol to make bile, so in this way, fibre has another indirect way of managing cholesterol levels.
Dietary fibre is the part of the plant that is resistant to enzymatic digestion. These indigestible parts are in the form of cellulose and noncellulose polysaccharides such as pectic substances, gums, mucilages and lignin. In other words, they are still mostly carbohydrates but are indigestible carbohydrates so are referred to generally, as fibre. The role of these fibres is to encourage the movement of the fecal mass along the bowel and result in elimination. There are also 2 categories of fibre: insoluble fibre and soluble fibre. Soluble fibres, as one can see by their name, dissolve in water and form mostly gel-like substances. This creates a softer bulk within the colon. Another function of soluble fibre is that it slows down the absorption of sugar from the gut so is vitally important in keeping blood sugar levels more stable. A second and just as important function 4
Nov - Dec 2021 / to order call 011-675-0477
If foods have sufficient soluble fibre, which then absorbs water and expands in the digestive system, then a feeling of satiety or fullness is much more easily attained. One could also therefore say, that soluble fibres help to prevent excess hunger and are important in managing and maintaining a healthy weight. Medical research, especially that related to gut functioning, has focused much on the microbiome, which refers to the multiples of bacterial colonies that occupy the digestive tract. Having the correct balance of a variety of bacteria in the gut has been found to be critical to maintain health in many aspects. Only some soluble fibres are
