Importance of fibre

Dietary Fibre - the facts

Increasing the fibre in your diet should be an essential part of your daily routine, acting much like an internal cleanser for your body.

The National Health and Medical Research Council recommend that adults should consume approximately 30 grams of fibre daily*. However, on average, most Australians consume just 18 to 25 grams of fibre a day.*

* NHMRC, "Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand", National Health and Medical Research Council, Canberra, 2005.

Fibre helps keep your insides clean

Adding fibre to your diet can help you have regular bowel movements - which can range from three a day to three a week, depending on the person. Other tips to help you stay healthy on the inside:

• Eat a well-balanced diet and regular meals
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Exercise regularly

Fibre can help lower your cholesterol

In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised the use of a health claim that states diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of soluble fibre per day from psyllium, as found in Metamucil, may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol.