Nutrition in the recent years has really focused on protein (which is great!).
The one thing that we aren't talking as much about, especially when people start to decrease their carbohydrate intake, is fibre. It's Heart Health Month and this nutrient is an important one we need to talk about.
Most North Americans are falling short of their daily fibre recommendations - 25+ grams for women, 30+ grams for men.
In fact, most Canadians are only getting about half the suggested amount. This nutritional gap stems from various factors, including a lack of education on nutrition.
Fiber isn't only about gut health and constipation. It's a nutritional powerhouse with wide-ranging health benefits:
If there's one thing you need to know about getting your fibre, it's this:
FIBRE ONLY COMES FROM PLANTS!
Also, fibre refers to a lot of different kinds of compounds. Which means, that the more diverse your diet, the more you get exposed to different kinds of fibre.
Yup, you get your fibre from fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, (whole) grains, beans, lentils, etc.
Here are some examples of what that can look like in a day:
If you find yourself aggravated by fibre because you've been on a low-fibre diet or if you have a gut-based condition like IBS, it's best to talk to your health team.
Regardless, it's best to add fibre in sloooowly if you fall in these categories so as to get your body accustomed to a high-fibre environment.
