Get Your Fiber Fix — erinlamb

One of the key aspects of your gut health journey is including fiber in your diet. Fiber is crucial for feeding our gut bacteria and helping it thrive. The more microbes we have in our gut, the stronger our gut lining will be. In addition, the good bacteria support digestion! Our body doesn’t make the enzymes to digest fiber. Our gut microbes are what break down fiber into short chain fatty acids, which provide fuel for the gut lining, bulk up our stool, get things moving, support balanced blood sugar and stimulate our immune system. These short-chain fatty acids are produced when fiber is fermented in the colon – they act as a source of energy for the cells lining the colon.

Fiber is responsible for quickly moving foods through the digestive tract, helping it function optimally. Fiber works by drawing fluids from the body to add bulk to the stool. If your stool is too dry, fiber will retain fluid and soften stool. If stool is too runny, fiber can absorb water and add form to the stool. It is crucial to keep in mind, when increasing our fiber you ALSO need to increase your water intake in order for this process to occur optimally.

It is recommended to get at least 20 – 30 g of fiber a day, shockingly, most individuals get HALF of this. If you currently have a low fiber diet, make sure to increase your fiber gradually. If you increase the amount too fast it can be common to experience digestive discomfort and can be hard for your body to break down.

As important as it is to include enough fiber in our diet, we should always be focusing on diversity. The more diverse our diet is, the more diversity there will be in our gut microbiome for a thriving gut. There is not ONE specific food or foods that are best for your gut or overall health. Rather than focusing on finding the BEST food or a few foods, our goal should be to diversify. The more diversity in your diet, the more diversity of nutrients your gut microbes will receive which makes for a good gut! Think colour, texture, shape etc….