The process of digestion and the important role of dietary fibre are now better understood. Recent studies have also shown that some types of starch, known as resistant starch, are at least as important as dietary fibre.
 Both fibre and starch play an active part in the health of the colon.

Good food and better nutrition are fundamental to  gastrointestinal health.

The wide range of fruits, vegetables, grains, breads,
cereals nuts and seeds which contain dietary fibre may also have important protective effects against many diseases, including bowel cancer.

Fibre is much more than the old idea of roughage.

The physical presence of fibre in the bowel is important but there is extra value from dietary fibre.  When fibre and resistant starches reach the colon, they are broken bown by 'good' bacteria. During this process, volatile fatty acids - butyric acid - helps keep the cells in the walls of the colon healthy and may also give some specific protection against the proliferation of cancer cells.

Many people restrict high-fibre foods because of fears about flatus. Fermentaion of dietary fibre and resistant starch by helpful bacteria does produce gases, but unless this is excessive, it is a normal process and the slight social inconvenience is a small price to pay for eating a nutritious diet.

To see the full booklet go to: assets/documents/Fibre Book Text.pdf


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