18 October 2014

HEALTH - 10 reasons to include prebiotics and fibre in your diet






Are you ticking the boxes when it comes to eating prebiotics 
and fibre? Here are a few great reasons why you should

10 reasons to include prebiotics and fibre in your diet
What improves your digestive health, helps combat bloating, is your best friend when it comes to weight loss management and helps you feel good inside and out? It may sound too good to be true but prebiotics and fibre help do all those things and more. Here’s why you need to welcome them into your diet.

1. Improve your digestive health

Naturopath and nutritionist Helen Ridge says, “Fibre is required for optimal digestive health. It affects the health of your digestive tract (intestine and colon), and prevents symptoms such as bloating and constipation.” Prebiotics also earn a gold star in the digestive health department by stimulating the growth of good bacteria in the gut – a key to a well-functioning digestive system.

2. A better immune system

Did you know that 70 per cent of your immune system is located in your gut? If you want to be able to fight disease effectively, it’s important to look after your digestive health. Ridge suggests incorporating prebiotics such as natural yoghurt and miso into your diet for a healthy digestive system.

3. It promotes the growth of good bacteria

While prebiotics help to keep your gut at optimum health by encouraging the growth of good bacteria and promoting a healthy gut lining, it also simultaneously helps to minimise the presence of harmful organisms by discouraging its growth. A US study has found that dietary fibre also helps the beneficial bacteria in the gut thrive.

4. Reduce bloating

How to banish dreaded bloat? The best way to beat it is to have a healthy gut. Prebiotics and fibre both help to encourage and promote a healthy digestive system which in turn will help reduce the incidence of bloating.

5. Weight loss management

If you want to keep the scales sitting on the right number, you need to take care of you digestive system. Did we mention fibre and prebiotics do a really good job of doing this? As your digestive system has the important task of breaking down food, distributing nutrients and controlling satiety, the better it works, the more you’ll be able to control your appetite, avoid overeating and manage your weight.

6. Lower cholesterol

Foods that are rich in prebiotics are great for the heart and may help lower cholesterol. These include whole grains, asparagus and bananas.

7. It reduces the risk of disease

As we owe the majority of our immune response to the state of our digestive system, the better shape it’s in the better it is at fighting disease. Prebiotics and fibre both help to improve gut health which helps to fight diseases such as bowel cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

8. Absorb nutrients more effectively

When your digestive system is healthy it’s better able to process food and absorb all the wonderful nutrients in it. Prebiotics and fibre both kick goals in the ‘promoting digestive health’ department so be sure to incorporate them into your diet daily.  

9. Avoid digestive issues

The rather unpleasant symptoms of an unhealthy digestive system include bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. Get your digestive system in order and it will keep these uncomfortable issues at bay.

10. Feel good (inside and out)

When you’re processing food well, absorbing nutrients efficiently, have an immune system that’s kicking disease butt and avoiding issues such as bloating and constipation, it’s impossible not to feel great both inside and out. Your digestive system is key to this, so it’s important to have at least 30 – 40 grams of fibre a day to keep it healthy and make sure to consume probiotics regularly.
Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

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