A new survey has revealed that only around one in five Britons are aware of the daily fibre recommendation and how to include more of the carbohydrate in their diets.
What’s worse, awareness of the plentiful health benefits linked to fibre, also known as the roughage, is low among the general public, a nutritionist has warned.
This “fibre gap” is leaving millions at risk of preventable chronic conditions, including bowel cancer, Dr Carrie Ruxton, dietitian and advisor to the General Mills fibre campaign explained.
She told Express.co.uk: “A survey commissioned by General Mills, the brains behind products like Fibre One 2, found that most people (70 to 80 percent) have experienced issues with wind, bloating, constipation or irregular bowels.
“Yet, only around one in five were aware of the daily fibre recommendation and how to include more in their diets.”
Fortunately, the dietary expert shared how to get more of the healthy carb into your weekly shopping list.
In the UK, the recommendation is to consume 30 grams of fibre a day, but only one in ten adults achieve this amount.
Dr Ruxton said: “In fact, the average intake is only 20 grams leaving a large fibre gap of 10 grams to fill.
“That’s despite fibre being found in many types of cheap, convenient foods.”
The good news is that fibre is readily available in a whole variety of foods, including wholegrain bread, wholemeal pasta, fruits, vegetables, beans, pulses, nuts and seeds.
Once you eat the roughage, it isn’t digested by your body which means it can get into your large intestine and interact with your gut bacteria.
“That’s where the magic starts leading to all kinds of health benefits,” the dietician said.
Eating plenty of fibre can slash your risk of health problems, ranging from bowel cancer to heart disease.
Dr Ruxton said: “Our fibre deficiency is leaving millions at risk of preventable chronic conditions. These include bowel problems like colo-rectal cancer, constipation, diverticular disease and irritable bowel disorder which could be prevented or managed if people ate more fibre.
“The risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease, can be reduced by having higher fibre intakes because fibre lowers blood cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as helping people to manage their body weight and promote ‘friendly’ gut bacteria.”
However, the survey found that just a quarter of adults were aware of the benefits linked to fibre, including lower cholesterol and a lower bowel cancer risk.
Therefore, awareness and effort to achieve the recommended 30 grams of fibre a day are key steps in closing the fibre gap.