IMPACT KITCHEN Health & Nutrition Information
IMPACT KITCHEN
Health & Nutrition Information
In this series, we take a deep dive into trending nutrients and discuss their health benefits. This week, we’re diving into all things fibre: what it is, why it matters and how to get more of it in your diet!
What is Fibre?
Fibre is a non-digestible carbohydrate—meaning the body can’t break it down—and it's found exclusively in plant foods. As a non-digestible carbohydrate, fibre is largely able to pass through the digestive system intact. It can be categorized in a couple of different ways (for example: fermentable vs non-fermentable fibres), but it is primarily categorized based on its water solubility.
Types of Fibre
- Soluble Fibre: dissolves in water, creating a gel. This type of fibre may help reduce blood sugar and cholesterol. Sources of soluble fibre include apples, oats, beans and psyllium.
- Insoluble: does not dissolve in water, and instead attracts water into the stool, softening it and making it easier to pass. This type of fibre is important for regularity. Sources of insoluble fibre include whole grains, nuts, peas and fruit with the skin intact.
Health Benefits of Fibre
1. Feeds Healthy Gut Bacteria
One of the biggest benefits of consuming fibre is its impact on the gut microbiome. While the human body can’t break down fibre, our gut bacteria are able to feed off the fibre (known as “prebiotics”, or the foods that feed the bacteria in our gut) which can help promote a diverse and healthy gut microbiome better suited to fighting off pathogenic bacteria.
2. Balances Blood Sugar
Another benefit of eating a fibre-rich diet is that fibre can help regulate blood sugar by decreasing the spike in blood sugar that often comes from consuming carbohydrates. Unlike other carbohydrates, fibre doesn’t require insulin to digest, so opting for high-fibre foods or adding fibre-rich foods to meals is a great way to keep blood sugar in a healthy range while improving satiety.
3. Moves Things Along
Fibre adds bulk to stool and can be beneficial in moving things along the digestive tract and keeping you regular. Insoluble fibre in particular can help increase transit time and prevent constipation.
What Foods Are High In Fibre?
- Beans and legumes
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Oats
- Apples
- Berries
- Avocados
- Root vegetables
- Whole grains
Our Favourite Ways To Get Fibre at Impact
If you’re looking to include more gut-supportive foods into your diet, here are some of our favourite choices at Impact Kitchen restaurant:
- Huevos Rancheros
- Chia Pudding
- Turkey Chili
- Zesty Mexican
- Restore Smoothie
- Strawberry Chia Square
The Impact Kitchen website features information about health and nutrition.