4 reasons to eat more fibre
Get ready for a fibre-rich diet!
Consuming enough dietary fibre is important for your health. The recommended daily intake: 30 to 40 grams of fibre. However, Dutch people consume only half the amount. The reason? It’s not always easy to consume enough fibre-rich foods. To give you an idea, two whole-grain sandwiches and a handful of almonds contains only 6.5 grams of fibre. So it might be a challenge, but believe us: you don’t want to miss out on these great benefits of a fibre-rich diet:
1. Good for your digestive system
There are several types of fibre, but they all fall into two broad categories: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre is soft and dissolves in water. It bulks up your stool, making it easier to pass. Sources include beans, oats, sweet potatoes and the flesh of some fruit. Insoluble fibre is found in whole grains, vegetables and fruit. This kind of fibre promotes contractions of the digestive tract that move food and waste through the body.
2. Protects you against diseases
Fibre gets well-deserved credit for keeping the digestive system in good working order — but it does plenty more. In fact, it helps reducing the risk of common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. The Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fond states that if everyone would eat enough dietary fibre, we could prevent about 12 percent of colon cancer cases (source).
3. Good for your heart
Research shows that fibre can lower your blood pressure and that it has a positive effect on your cholesterol. How? The soluble fibre absorb cholesterol from food and removes it through the faeces. This makes your blood vessels a lot healthier.
4. Helps with weight loss
Eating plenty of fibre also helps with weight loss and gives you a saturated feeling, which makes you less hungry. Plus: many high-fibre foods are low in calories.
Gigi: rich in fibre!
Did you know that our Gigi’s are rich in fibre? Who said gelato can’t be healthy?! Check our store locator to see where our ice cream is available in your area.
Wondering what to eat to increase your fibre-intake? Read this blog.
