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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 25. September 26 1977
High Fibre Diets
High Fibre Diets
The latest "in thing" for health cranks or sound medical sense?
Until recently the importance of fibre roughage in the diet was not fully recognised, but now mounting evidence suggests that the lack of fibre is an important contributory factor in a number of common diseases, many of which involve the intestine. These include : —
- diverticular desease
- irritable bowel syndrome
- simple constipation
- large bowel cancer
- haemorrhoids (piles)
It has also been suggested that other disorders such as coronary heart disease, obesity, and diabetes may also be related. More importantly fibre aids the healthy functioning of the Intestine.
Fibre comes from plant foods and a diet containing highly refined foods is fibre depleted. White flour for instance contains practically none of the fibre rich outer coats sold separately as "bran" or "wheatgerm".
A healthy diet should contain carbohydrate food in as unrefined a state as possible.
Suggestions for improving the fibre content of your diet.
| 1) | Eat plenty of fruit and nuts and vegetables of all kinds. |
| 2) | Choose wholemeal or wholegrain breads in preference to white bread. Remember all brown bread is not wholegrain. The "brown" may be imparted by colouring. Try making your own bread, using Helen Corrigan's recent recipe. |
| 3) | Use wholemeal flour to replace white flour in any recipe — the possibilities are endless, Use for thickenings and in baking. |
| 4) | Use breakfast cereals rich in fibre. These include Bran Flakes, Vi-Bran, All Bran, Muesli (make your own), Rolled Oatmeal, Wholewheat cereals e.g. Weetbix, Nutties, Granola. Add bran gradually to the diet or you'll be plagued by "wind". |
| 5) | Even pasta has gone wholemeal. Wholemeal macroni and spaghetti are now available. |
| 6) | Cut down sugar, a highly refined food. |
Lack of fibre does matter