Give your gut a boost: your guide to increasing fibre intake

Let’s recap: exactly what is fibre? Fibre is the tough part of plants that isn’t digested in the small intestine, but is instead fermented by bacteria in the large intestine. Don’t be fooled, however! Just because fibre isn’t digested, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t valuable! For the hard-working friendly bacteria in the gut, fibre is essential in order for them to thrive. We’ll delve into more of the benefits of fibre later on in the article, but first let’s take a closer look at the different types of fibre: 

• Insoluble: doesn’t dissolve in water and adds bulk to your stool; found in foods such as: beans, peas, nuts and wholegrains
• Soluble: dissolves in water to form a gel and delay emptying of the stomach (digestion); found in foods such as: vegetables, fruit, avocados, oats, nuts 
• Resistant starch: type of soluble fibre that is highly fermentable and is broken down into short chain fatty acids in the gut. Sources include: cooked & cooled potatoes, soaked oats, green (unripe) bananas, pulses. 

The benefits of fibre are seemingly endless! From improved digestive function and regularity of bowel movements to management of cholesterol and blood glucose levels, to improved satiety (feelings of fullness) after meals and subsequent weight management support…and that’s not to mention the reduction in risk of developing chronic health conditions such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. 

But what about the benefits for performance? 

Let's take a motorsport athlete as an example. If you’re new to the world of motorsport, the key thing to know is that the life of a motorsport athlete is extremely demanding: it often involves frequent international travel, eating in different environments and different time zones, challenges to the immune system, extreme physical challenges (in training and races)…we could go on! Having a robust, ‘well-trained’ gut is key for helping motorsport athletes to ward off illnesses to keep them available for training and races, minimise the risk of the athlete suffering gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as stomach cramps or loose stools during travel or competition, as well as help them to adapt to different cuisines as they cross the globe and experience various types of food. 

In our experience, we’ve seen motorsport athletes display very good eating habits and in many cases, the athletes regularly include fibre-rich foods in their diets. Even when travelling, athletes make a conscious effort to pack fibre-rich snacks such as nuts or oat bars, as well as maintain their intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, no matter where they are in the world. 

What can you do to reap the benefits or fibre, just like a high-performance athlete?

• Start the day off right: eat a fibre-rich breakfast that includes either oats, wholegrain cereal, wholemeal or granary toast, then try to include a portion of vegetables or fruit too. 
• Boosters: include simple fibre-packed boosters such as nuts and seeds to meals and snacks. They’re a delicious addition to breakfast bowls, yoghurt, salads and soups, plus they add texture and healthy fats 
• Leave the skins on fruit and vegetables: potatoes, apples, pears, carrots and more. Just remember to always wash them well beforehand
• Super snacks: between meals, snack on fibre-packed snacks to keep energy levels balanced and help you stay feeling full between meals. E.g. Teff cookies, Wyldsson nuts, or Graze veg snacks. 
• Bulk out meals with pulses: add beans, chickpeas, lentils or peas to your favourite dishes. They work especially well in curries, stews, soups and salads, plus they’re a good source of protein and iron.
• Go for grains: opt for wholegrains such as quinoa, bulgur wheat, wholewheat pasta, cous cous and brown rice as your carbohydrate sources in meals. You may find yourself feeling slightly fuller after meals as a result 

With these handy tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your fibre intake to strengthen your gut and optimise your health! If you’re in need of some motivation for fibre-packed meals and snacks, drop us an email at info@TheEdgeHPL.com and we’ll send you a FREE copy of our Special Edition Recipe Book.