Fibre

What is fibre and are there different types?

Dietary fibre is found in fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. Fibre cannot be fully digested and is often called bulk or roughage. There are two types of fibre found in food - soluble and insoluble.

Soluble fibre, which can dissolve in water, is found in beans, fruit and oat products.

Insoluble fibre cannot dissolve in water, so it therefore passes directly through the digestive system. It’s found in wholegrain products and vegetables.

Why does the body need fibre?

Fibre is essential for the digestive system. Soluble fibre helps to lower cholesterol and maintain a stable amount of blood sugar. Insoluble fibre helps food to pass through the gut.

How much fibre does bread contain?

A medium slice of both brown and seeded bread provide around 1.2 grams of fibre. White bread provides 0.7g and wholemeal bread provides 1.8g per medium slice.

How much fibre does the human body need?

Bread, rice, potatoes and other starchy foods should make up around a third of your daily diet. You should also eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Wholemeal bread contains more fibre than white – so does that make white bread bad for me?

The simple answer is no. Although white bread does contain less fibre than wholemeal bread, it is not nutrient poor. Analysis by the Medical Research Council found that white bread contributes 10% or more of adult calcium, iron, manganese and thiamine intake; it is low in fat and sugar but, perhaps surprisingly, provides one tenth of our dietary fibre and nearly a tenth of protein. If you prefer white bread, then it’s fine to eat it.