WHY DO I NEED FIBRE IN MY DIET?

QI have always been constipated. I know about eating fibre, but apart from helping me go to the toilet more easily, which I could achieve with laxatives, does it help with anything else?

Philippa says

Fibre is extremely important, and we should be aiming to eat 30g per day, which is actually quite a lot.

Having a diet low in fibre increases your risk of developing bowel cancer; eating a diet rich in fibre decreases this risk.

Aim for a variety of fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Try adding a couple of tablespoons of linseeds to your yogurt or cereal for a quick fibre boost.

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