I told you summer wasn’t over! The sun is shining as I write this and it’s really lovely and warm. The rain has been though, and I think all our gardens are happy for it… now I really do sound like I’ve just turned 50! 😂
Last week I talked about not feeling like you HAVE to go ALL IN in September with some massive ‘New Year’ style overhaul. Maybe it’s just about a bit of a reset of routine, then filtering in the steps towards better nutrition and getting back to your regular exercise routine that holidays, socials, kids being off school and general summer activities have so rudely (but welcomely) interfered with.
And fibre is something you can easily focus on without feeling like you need to consume a whole chicken to achieve your goals.
Protein has been having all the attention
Protein yoghurt, cereal, bars, puddings… protein water!
Recently it feels like we’re living in a world where absolutely everything needs extra protein added to it.
I’m a huge protein fan, particularly as we get older and want to hang on to all that useful muscle we’ve spent years building.
But while protein has been enjoying its celebrity status, something considerably less glamorous has started trending:
Fibre!
Apparently we’re now fibremaxxing… yes, that is a real thing. 😂
Though eating more fibre isn’t exactly revolutionary!
Fruit, vegetables, beans, lentils, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. The boring sensible stuff we’ve known about forever has basically been given a 2026 rebrand.
And most of us could genuinely do with more of it. The UK recommendation for adults is around 30g of fibre a day, yet many of us aren’t getting there.
What are the benefits of fibre?
So why all the fuss?
Fibre helps keep your gut happy, keeps you regular (yes, we’re talking poo 💩), helps you feel fuller for longer, supports healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels and a higher-fibre diet is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.
Not bad for something so unglamorous.
And rather than buying something with HIGH FIBRE plastered all over the packet, the simplest approach is probably the least exciting one…
Eat some plants. Keep the skin on your potatoes. Chuck some beans or lentils into something. Have some fruit. Choose wholegrains when you fancy them.
And the best tip I ever had was from a midwife nearly 26 years ago when I was on codeine post-delivery and was VERY bunged up.
Eat kiwi fruit with the skin on.
The fruit, obviously. Please leave actual Kiwis alone. 🇳🇿😂
So, no fibremaxxing required — although I’m slightly disappointed because it does sound like it should involve a barbell.
Maybe just look at what you’re already eating and find one or two easy ways to sneak a little more fibre into your day.
I’m off to grab some Kiwis…
Sorry. I’ve been corrected.
Kiwi fruit. 🥝