High fibre diet

Fibre is not digestible by the body; when you eat fibre, it passes down through the small intestine into the colon. In the colon, it is broken down by the normal bacteria in the gut and then it acts like a sponge to retain water in the bowel motion (stool). It helps to produce a soft, bulky bowel motion, which is easy to evacuate. It also eases the passage of the stool along the bowel, helping to regulate the bowels. It helps prevent constipation by softening the stool, but can also help prevent diarrhoea by absorbing some of the liquid to produce a more 'formed' motion.

Which foods are high in fibre?

• Some breakfast cereals: including high-bran cereals such as All Bran™, Bran Flakes™, Weetabix™, Shredded Wheat™, muesli and porridge;

• Some bread: wholemeal, stoneground, granary or bran enriched;

• Other cereals: brown rice, wholemeal flour and its products: wholemeal spaghetti, digestive biscuits;

• Vegetables: especially pulses (including baked beans and kidney beans), lentils, jacket potatoes, carrots, sweetcorn, broad beans, runner beans, peas, sprouts;

• Fruits: especially oranges, pears, apples, avocados, grapefruits, prunes, berries, figs;

• Nuts: especially peanuts, almonds, coconuts.