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The Secret to Avoiding Constipation and Related Bloating: Natural Dietary Fibres

mixed beans and grains We all suffer from constipation and constipation-related bloating occasionally, and some of us less lucky ones experience these symptoms regularly.

Constipation and the subsequent bloating and are very common and can be caused by a variety of reasons.

One of the most effective, and often overlooked, ways to avoid and indeed cure constipation and the bloating side effects is to consume Natural Dietary Fibres regularly. You certainly heard a lot about the benefits of adding fibre to your diet, but what is natural fibre and in which food can it be found?

Fibre is the material that gives plants texture and support. Although it is primarily made up of carbohydrates, it does not have a lot of calories and is usually not broken down by the body for energy. Dietary fiber is found in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains*

Fibre comes in 2 types, soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fibre is the type used to treat bloating, constipation and to prevent colon cancer. It is mainly found in the bran of grains, the pulp of fruits and the skin of vegetables.

Soluble fibre on the other hand can lower cholesterol levels. It is found in oatmeal and oat bran, dried beans and in vegetables and fruits, notably apples.

High fibre foods encourage bowel movements by speeding up the transit of food offering an effective relief from constipation and related bloating. They also reduce the risk of diverticular disease and colon cancer.

Fibre is also recommended for people suffering from diabetes and cholesterol. People suffering from obesity can greatly benefit from a fibre rich diet, which tends to make a person feel replete faster.

Fibre foods are also helpful in controlling haemorrhoids, or piles, as they add more bulk and softens the stool, thus, reducing painful symptoms.

For optimal health, the average daily intake of fibre should be around 25 grams a day for women and 30 grams for men, but most of us usually consume no more than 10 grams of fibre a day

One easy way to start a diet rich in fibre is to first identify and avoid foods with low nutritional value in fibres like:

Food of animal origin
Juices of fruits and vegetables and all the drinks generally
Fat, fast food, sugar and sweets
Prepared & refined foods including cereal products

Easy tips for increasing your natural fibre intake includes:

Choose wholesome cereals, bread and biscuits rich in fibers, brown rice, oat flakes
Opt for whole wheat when you eat bread.
Use dried vegetables or pulses: dried peas, lentils, corn and beans in your salads or combine them with rice
Eat lots of fruits and ideally, eat fruits with their skin (apples, pears, plums, nectarines...)
Increase your intake of fresh and preferably organic vegetables
Consume dried fruit such as figs, apricots and dates as well as nuts such almonds, walnuts and peanuts

Amongst the foods that are richest in fibre are bran cereals with almost 20 grams for a serving of 1 cup:

-Bbarley 16 grams

- Oats bran 15 grams,

- Cooked black beans has 19 grams of fibre,

- Lentils 16 grams

- Apples (with skin) yields 5 grams

- Raspberries 8 gr,

- Pears 5gr,

- Grapefruit 6gr

- Avocadoes yield 12 gr of fibre for 1 medium sized avocado.

As for vegetables, higher quantities of fibre are found in Artichoke (10 grams) Kale (7grams) Peas (9grams), corn (4.5 grams) Sweet potatoes (with skin 6 grams).

Its important to remember that our bodies react differently. A high fibre diet can cause bloating in some people, but in others may relieve bloating. Thats because fibre absorbs water in the gut and gently distends it, helping to prevent the uncoordinated contractions that are partly responsible for bloating.

Please note: The amount of fibre in foods varies from one source to another, and the list is too extensive for the purpose of this article

High Fibre Recipe

Barley Salad with Feta Cheese & tomatoes (serves 4)

Ingredients
100 g of barley
150 g of feta
3 tomatoes cut in cubes
6 stalks of coriander or parsley

Cook the barley in water for 90 minutes on low heat. Verify the level of the water at the end of one hour and add some as needed.

Drain and let cool

Pour the barley in a salad bowl and add tomatoes, feta and finish with the coriander/ parsley. Drizzle with olive oil

High Fibre Foods

Insoluble Fibre	Soluble Fibre
Barley	Blueberries
Couscous	Oatmeal, oatbran
Brown rice	Legumes
Whole wheat bread	Beans
Bulgur	Dried peas
Wheat bran	Lentils
Seeds	Apples
Carrots	Pears
Cucumbers	Strawberries
Whole grain breakfast cereals * source: : on-line medical dictionary	Nuts and seeds