Weekly Health Tip: Incorporate more fibre into your diet!

by Lisa Bell, Registered Holistic Nutritionist

Fibre is so important. We all know it promotes healthy digestion, but it also does so much more.

Soluble fibre has an appetite curbing effect, which can help with weight loss. Soluble fibre also helps to control blood sugar levels, which is very helpful for people with diabetes, and those wishing to lose weight. It also aids in detoxification, by binding to toxins in the intestinal tract and helping to eliminate them. It also helps to lower harmful cholesterol levels in the body, decreasing our risk of heart disease.

Insoluble fibre works similarly to a scrub brush, helping to eliminate toxins and hardened material from the intestinal wall by gently scraping them off as it passes through our digestive system.

You can increase your fibre intake by including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet. Apples are full of pectin, a great source of soluble fibre. Hearty greens like kale or Swiss chard are great sources of insoluble fibre.

We also carry a Healthy Heart Mix in our bulk bins, which contains ground flax, psyllium husk, oat bran, and chia seeds. This mix not only contains excellent sources of both soluble and insoluble fibre, but also contains omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. You can sprinkle this mix on your cereal, add it to cooked oatmeal or blend it into soft foods such as applesauce or yogurt.

You can also increase your fibre intake with supplements. Renew Life’s Organic Clear Fibre is a soluble fibre made from 100% certified organic gum acacia. This type of fibre has been shown to decrease BMI and body fat percentage. Acacia fibre also acts as a prebiotic, which helps promote the colonization of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract. It is a convenient, tasteless powder which mixes well into liquids or soft foods.

Renew Life’s FibreSmart is not only a great source of both soluble and insoluble fibre; it is a healing digestive care formula. This formula is great if you have a compromised digestive system. It’s great for those with intestinal permeability or Celiac disease, for example.  It contains healing ingredients like l-glutamine (an amino acid which helps to re-establish a healthy intestinal lining), and gut-soothing ingredients like marshmallow root and slippery elm.