Written By: Tania Tarafdar | Updated : October 31, 2017 4:52 PM IST
Fibre keeps your stomach happy and aids weight loss. Foods like beans, grains, broccoli, spinach and nuts are all great sources of fibre but are you eating enough of them? You need 14g of fibre per 1000 calories you consume which means you need 30 to 40 g of fibre in a day. To put that into perspective, by eating just two slices of multigrain bread for breakfast you get just 6g of fibre so you need more of fibre throughout the day. According to nutritionist Padma Syal, these signs tell you that you are not eating enough fibre.
You feel hungry shortly after you eat: You feel fuller when you eat a fibre-rich meal than when you eat a carbohydrate-rich meal. This is because the soluble fibre forms a gel-like material in your digestive tract that causes slower absorption of nutrients in your blood stream. When your meal is low in fibre, you get hungry faster. Here are 5 things to keep in mind while eating fibre-rich foods.
You lack energy: When you eat a lot of simple carbohydrates, you experience a rapid surge in blood sugar after you eat. Your body then produces more insulin which results in an energy crash. When you eat a fibre rich meal your blood sugar increases at a slower rate and so you are at the best of your energy levels.
You cannot poop: Fibre adds bulk to the contents of your gastrointestinal tract and keep things moving. So not eating enough fibre can result in hard, dry stool that moves slowly resulting in constipation and strained bowel movements. Here are 5 health risks of having too much fibre.
You do not lose weight: It is important that you get enough fibre if you are trying to lose weight because you feel full for longer you are likely to eat fewer calories. High-fibre foods often require more chewing and take longer for your stomach to digest.
You have a heart problem: Fibre teams up with other beneficial nutrients like iron, zinc and B vitamins to lower your cholesterol levels. So if you have issues with your heart, you can directly link it to your diet.
Image source: Shutterstock Images
