High-fibre, low-carb foods: are they the right ingredients for a healthy diet?

 Author: All-Bran | 21.10.2016

There’s a lot of information out there about what constitutes a healthy diet with low-carb plans such as Atkin’s gaining hugely in popularity a decade or so ago, starchy foods are still sometimes seen as ‘the enemy’. But in the 80’s it was all about the F-plan and fibre. So what actually constitutes a healthy diet? Are high fibre, low-carb diets or an overall balance the best option when it comes to getting the nutrition you need?

According to the NHS, people in the UK generally eat too many calories, and are overdoing intake of fat, sugar and salt but not getting enough fruit, veg, oily fish, fibre and wholegrain1. Fibre is a crucial nutrient in making sure that food moves easily through your digestive system, so it’s super important for maintaining a balanced diet and keeping you feeling great on the inside.

"As well as containing vital minerals and vitamins, fruit and veg (and their skins) are a good source of fibre. We all know we’re supposed to get our five a day which should help you on your way to eating enough fibre."

But other high-fibre foods that’ll give you that all-important fibre fix are:

• Wheat bran-based breakfast cereals like All-Bran

• Wholegrain breads, rice and pasta

• Nuts and seeds

Fibre comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble. Wheat bran is a source of insoluble fibre – the sort you can find in All-Bran. Wheat bran fibre is well known for promoting regularity; it acts as bulk or roughage and speeds everything up, so you’re less likely to fall victim to constipation.

So now we know we need fibre for a healthy digestive system. But what about carbs, should we be eating less? Carbohydrates play an important nutritional role of their own, providing us with the energy we need to fuel our muscles and brain. There are two types of carbohydrate which provide energy in our diets; sugars and starch, also known as complex carbohydrates. Both types provide the same amount of energy per gram. It’s recommended that carbohydrates make up around a third of our food intake² – and the more starchy, complex carbs the better.

Because our bodies utilise carbs for important processes, low-carb diets aren’t the best option. Rather, it’s a case of making sure you don’t overdo it. Choose wholegrain varieties and prioritise the more complex carbohydrates in your diet. Read our tips for a balanced diet to see which other key food groups you need to help you stay healthy and happy.

¹http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Healthyeating.aspx

²www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Healthyeating.aspx

"Reducing bloating can have a number of benefits that may not be as obvious, for example the mental side effects from not feeling tired and sluggish can help you greet each day with a positive outlook."

MORE TIPS & ADVICE

10g of wheat bran fibre per day helps reduce digestive transit time. ALL-BRAN contains at least 3-6g wheat bran fibre per serve. Enjoy as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.