When you think of fiber, dry whole wheat bread or a serving of oatmeal probably come to mind first. But fiber is so much more than just a healthy component of your breakfast.
It plays a crucial role in your health – and many people underestimate its effects. But why is it so important? Let's take a closer look!
First of all: fiber are the "uncooked" parts in plants that your body cannot digest. There are two types: soluble and insoluble fiber. Both are important for different areas of your health.
You'll find soluble fiber in foods like oats, apples, or legumes. They have the impressive ability to bind water and form a gel-like substance. This might not sound like something that will make your life easier, but these fibers help to lower cholesterol levels and keep blood sugar stable. This effect can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (Slavin, 2023).
On the other hand, there's insoluble fiber, found primarily in whole grains, nuts, and vegetables. These are the "gut helpers" that ensure everything flows properly through your digestive tract. They increase stool volume, helping to prevent constipation and reduce the risk of intestinal diseases (Anderson et al., 2009). Fiber is even attributed with a preventative effect against colon cancer, as it binds potentially harmful substances and reduces their damaging effect in the intestines (Slavin, 2008).
Furthermore, fiber has a great quality: it makes you feel full! This means you feel satisfied longer after a fiber-rich meal and are less likely to reach for unhealthy snacks. Perfect if you want to lose a few pounds or just stay healthy.
Our normal diet often isn't enough to meet the recommended daily intake of 25 to 30 grams. And: more recent findings show that a daily intake of over 30 to even 60 grams is not harmful but rather even more desirable for our health.
So: if whole wheat bread with apples isn't quite cutting it, we're here to help with our "less-sugar" range. A small 50-gram bag has more than 20 grams of fiber and under 74 kcal.
What are you waiting for – do something good for yourself and your body and snack on a bag of "less sugar" now and then! P.S.: Thanks to a full snacking experience, Less sugar may also be good for your mind! ;)
Sources:
Anderson, J.W., Baird, P., Davis, R.H., Ferreri, S., Knudtson, M., Schreus, T. 82009) Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutrition Reviews, 67 (4), 188-200
Slavin, J-L- (2008). Dietary fiber and bodyweight. Nutrition, 24(4), 305-312
Slavin, J.L. (2013). Dietary fiber and body weight. Nutrition 29(5), 536-540.
