When it comes to nutrition, fibre is an important macronutrient. Often overlooked, fibre is a form of carbohydrate but is broken down and metabolised differently to normal carbs.
There are two types of fibre. Soluble fibre dissolves in water and has the health benefit of binding to cholesterol as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract.
Insoluble fibre doesn’t dissolve in water and benefits the digestion process by adding bulk to the stool.
Fibre should be included as part of a healthy nutrition plan. It promotes healthy digestion and contributes to a fuller feeling that can be beneficial when restricting calories.
Often thought of as having zero calories, fibre can actually equate to between 1-3 calories per gram once broken down by your gut bacteria.
This is an important factor when it comes to tracking calories and it should be managed by treating it as a form of carbs.
