There always seems to be a new trend, whether it be fashion, beauty or health. In recent years, everyone has been talking about protein.
Protein pancakes, protein milk, protein, protein, protein. But now the attention has been turned to fibre and the benefits it has in our diets. Did you know that 80 per cent of Irish adults aren’t meeting their daily fibre goals? We certainly didn’t!
Social media is all about fibremaxxing. So we wanted to get to the bottom of this new trend, what we can actually use fibre for and how we can include it in our diet.
Here, Holland and Barrett’s Rachel Chatterton breaks it all down…
What is Fibremaxxing?
Fibremaxxing is all about deliberately supporting your intake of fibre, both soluble and insoluble.
It can be as simple as building your meals around beans, lentils, wholegrains, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables. For others, it’s adding supplements like psyllium husk or fibre supplements into your daily routine for dietary intake support.
What are the benefits of fibre?
Fibre is essential for healthy digestion and supporting the good bacteria in your gut.
It also plays a role in overall wellbeing, including immunity and mood. According to the Irish Nutrition & Dietetics Institute (INDI), over 80 per cent of Irish adults don’t meet the recommended 25–29 grams per day, with the national average just 19 grams1. Adding more fibre can make a real difference to your health.
What are the easy ways to incorporate fibre into our diet?
Small swaps and simple additions make an impact!
Start by adding one extra plant-based ingredient to each meal, think berries on your breakfast, a spoonful of chickpeas in your soup, or edamame beans on your stir fry. Seeds are another super easy option; keep them visible on your worktop so you actually remember to use them.
“Use tinned beans or lentils for a quick fibre boost, swap white bread and pasta for wholemeal versions, and spread your fibre intake throughout the day rather than cramming it all into one meal. Batch-cooking fibre-rich meals like lentil soups or bean chilli is another simple way to stay on track.
Fibre needs water to work properly, keeping your digestion moving smoothly. So, if you’re increasing your fibre, make sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids too!
What foods should we be eating?
Our new High Fibre Range makes it really easy to help you hit your daily fibre intake.
Products like our Super Seed Spinach Crispbreads, Seed & Berry Topper, Boost Mix, 5 Seed Bars and Crunchy Roasted Beans are delicious ways to get more fibre every day. Other great sources include oats, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds, bananas and plenty of vegetables.
Holland & Barrett’s High Fibre range is now available nationwide, both in-store and online. With 70 stores across Ireland, the new range makes it easier than ever to add more fibre to every meal.