Signs you’re not getting enough fibre

Fibre is a form of indigestible carbohydrate, essential for maintaining a happy gut and healthy digestive system.

It feeds the ‘good’ bacteria in your gut, which then help to provide many health benefits, like controlling your immune system, blood sugar, brain function and weight. To reap the full benefits, we recommend consuming 30g of fibre per day, which will require a little more planning on fasting days (800 calorie days). This is why The Fast 800 Fibre Blends (currently available in Australia and New Zealand) and Shakes can be a helpful addition to your diet, providing a high-fibre boost to your daily intake in just one serving.

Signs you’re not getting enough fibre

If you’re getting enough fibre in your diet, you may begin experiencing some adverse symptoms, such as:

Constipation

Fibre increases the size and softness of stool, making it easier to go to the toilet.¹ Studies have shown that dietary fibre increases stool frequency and can relieve constipation, and one recent review found that 77% of people with constipation found relief when increasing their fibre intake.^{2 3} So, if you’re finding that you’re struggling with your bowel movements, adding some more fibre into your diet could help.

Fatigue and low energy

While fibre does not provide energy, it does help in energy regulation; if you’re finding that you’re low in energy frequently, your fibre intake could be a good place to start.⁴ Fibre can support the stabilisation of blood glucose levels, ensuring a slower release of blood sugars, which helps you avoid those energy crashes throughout the day.⁵ It also arguably indirectly impacts energy levels as a result of its satiety-inducing effects, allowing you to focus better on tasks at hand rather than on feelings of hunger and cravings throughout the day (particularly on 800 calorie days), which leads us to our next point.⁶

Hungry shortly after eating

One of the most important benefits of fibre is its ability to make you feel fuller for longer. Studies show that dietary fibre increases perceived satiety and regulates appetite by slowing down gastric emptying.⁷ Therefore, if you are finding that you feel hungry shortly after eating, you likely need to include more fibre into your meals and overall diet. Our Shakes and Fibre Blends are convenient, satiating additions to your diet, even on fasting days: simply add water, and discover the transforming effects that fibre can have on your appetite!

Difficulty losing weight

Another sign you’re not getting enough fibre is difficulty losing weight. If your goal is to lose weight, but you’re feeling that it’s proving difficult, you may need to focus on upping your fibre. As we said, fibre can help reduce your appetite between meals, which in turn can assist with weight loss as there’s less temptation to snack, overeat or give in to unhealthy cravings. Dietary fibre is known to promote weight loss in general and, in particular, belly fat loss. So, ensuring you’re prioritising reaching that 30g goal each day can assist in a healthy weight loss journey.^{8 9}

Try our delicious range of Gut health products (currently available in Australia and New Zealand) and Shakes (available in the UK, Australia and New Zealand) to help you reach our 30g recommendation, even on 800 calorie days.