There is a lot of discussion about the effectiveness and impact of supplements on our bodies. Whether you take supplements regularly or are wondering if you should, it’s important to know which supplements will provide overall health benefits versus targeted benefits. One of the best supplements to be taking regularly is a fibre supplement. Fibre supplements are readily available and offer a range of benefits. If you’re unsure or need a little more info, here are 5 reasons why you need to be taking fibre supplements.
What is fibre and fibre supplements?
Before we dive into the key reasons why you need fibre supplements, let’s first explore what fibre is. Fibre is a part of the carbohydrate family, however, it differs from other carbs as it doesn’t break down into sugar molecules for energy in the body. Fibre is a vital part of any diet and is found in plant foods like fruits, grains, veggies, beans and other foods. It’s an important part of weight and cholesterol management as well as digestion and regularity. Its most important role in our body to help ease bowel movements by absorbing water as it travels through the body.
1. Helps to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
One of the best benefits of taking fibre supplements is the impact fibre can have on your appetite. Fibre is a fantastic and natural way to help make you feel fuller for longer. Taking fibre supplements means you’ll have more fibre in your system, helping to stop overeating and maintain a healthy weight. If you’re trying to lose weight then fibre supplements may give you the added help you need to maintain healthy portions as you’ll feel fuller for longer. This feeling of fullness will help avoid snacking or eating foods between meals meaning you can lose weight and keep it off. Fibre supplements can really become an ally in your weight management journey.
2. Fibre helps increase bowel movements
Arguably the most well-known benefit of fibre supplements is the improvement they can have in your regularity. Regular bowel movements are critically important for your gut and colon health. Regular bowel movements help reduce the risk for multiple severe diseases such as colon disease, colorectal cancer and hemorrhoids. Fibre supplements will help increase your bowel movements and help in making them more regular. Fibre supplements do this by increasing water absorption as the fibre travels through your body. This increased water absorption makes it easier to pass bowel movements and helps increase their regularity. If you’ve never been a regular toilet goer, then perhaps a fibre supplement can really help you.
3. Better control of your blood sugar levels
Blood sugar levels in the modern day are very important to consider given the use of refined sugars in foods. Highly processed foods are cheap, and easy and almost always have high levels of refined sugar. This makes for a potentially dangerous outcome for your blood sugar levels. Fibre supplements help to control your blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the body. This slowing of absorption by fibre supplements will mean your body is better able to control blood sugar levels and not have those spikes throughout the course of a day. Blood sugar levels are the inherent indicator of Type 2 diabetes, and fibre supplements can help to avoid the development of this condition through its control of blood sugar.
4. Helps to reduce cholesterol levels
Cholesterol is one of those health factors that become increasingly important as you age. Many people don’t pay enough attention to the foods they eat which may contribute to increasing bad cholesterol or low-density lipoproteins. One of the benefits of adding more fibre to your diet, like taking fibre supplements, is that a high fibre intake helps lower low-density lipoproteins or bad cholesterol. Taking fibre supplements is a really simple way to help ensure you’re giving your body everything it needs to take care of bad cholesterol levels. It’s important however to also keep a close eye on the foods you consume as well to ensure you aren’t taking in too much bad cholesterol that your fibre supplements can’t do their job effectively.
5. Reduce risks of certain chronic diseases
Fibre supplements and a high-fibre diet can have many benefits, including helping reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases. Fibre can help reduce the risks for diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, diverticula disease and some types of cancers. These chronic diseases impact a lot of people every year and by simply taking fibre supplements you can give yourself the best chance to reduce the risk factors. Find a fibre supplement that works best for you and make a routine out of taking it each day or as directed. This simple task can really reduce the risk of developing these chronic diseases which can change a life forever.
Fibre supplements are a simple way to immediately start increasing the fibre in your diet. There are many brands and types of fibre supplements on the market, so be sure to do your research and find the right fibre supplement for you. A great place to start is by visiting your local chemist and asking the pharmacist for advice on the best fibre supplements. Check out retailers like chemist warehouse fibre supplements or find other fibre supplements near you and start reaping the rewards of increased fibre intake. Be sure to check out our other nutrition articles.
