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Toowoomba
Gastroenterology Clinic
Medici Medical Centre
Scott Street, Toowoomba
Queensland, 4350
Ph: 07 46394124
Fax: 07 46394070
What is “fibre”? “Fibre” is the term used to describe any dietary substance that is not able to be
digested in the small bowel. Fibre proceeds into the large bowel and is either broken down by
bacteria into smaller molecules, some of which can be absorbed or it passes out unchanged in
our faeces. Plants deliver many different types and quality of fibre (pectins, gums, hemicelluloses,
mucilages, lignin, and cellulose). Some starches, so called “resistant starches” also cannot be
digested in the small bowel.
What use is “fibre”? We are all aware that fibre increases the
weight and volume of our stool, allowing the bowel muscles to
propel bowel contents along the length of our bowel more easily.
Diverticular disease, haemorrhoids, bowel spasm, constipation
are all more likely to occur if dietary fibre is low. Less well
recognized is that the bacterial fermentation of some fibres
produces useful by-products in addition to increased gas (not so
welcome) and water (which again aids passage of the stool).
Bacteria use energy derived from the fermentation process to
stimulate their growth. They proliferate and increase stool bulk (50% of our stool is comprised of
bacteria). The fermentation process also produces volatile fatty acids which in turn are absorbed
by the large bowel mucosal lining and used as an energy source by us to maintain mucosal
health. Increasing fibre content in the diet is not useful for people with “mega-colon”.
How much? 20-30gm daily is recommended for adults. A simple of rule of thumb for children is
their age in years plus 5 equals the grams of fibre recommended daily.
Soluble vs Insoluble?
Most “fibre” increases stool weight not only with its own weight but by binding water during its
transit through the gut. Fibre that is fermented by bacteria creates even more water (and gas,
bacteria and other products). Some types of fibre are soluble in water, and in general these are
more likely to be able to be digested by colonic bacteria. The soluble fibres in general produce
more “gas” which can be the most troubling side effect of increased fibre intake. A normal varied
diet contains approximately one third soluble and two thirds insoluble fibre. If symptoms such as
bloating and increased flatulence are problems with a high fibre diet try different types of fibre.
Fibre derived from fruit, vegetables or oat bran is often better tolerated than that from wheat bran.
Wheat bran also contains phytic acid which can interfere with the absorption of iron.
Soluble Fibre
Type of foods
Insoluble Fibre
Type of foods
Pectins
Fruits, seeds
Lignin
Wheat bran, Vegetables
Fruits, legumes
Hemicelluloses
Fruits, nuts, cereal
Mucilages
Oats, barley, seeds
Bulking agents
Seeds, cereals
Food additive
Cellulose
Vegetables, fruits
Legumes, Cereals, Nuts
Gums
FIBRE CONTENT OF FOODS
Bread
Serving size
Total Fibre
Wholemeal
1 slice
(32g)
2.0g
White
1 slice
(32g)
1.0g
Fibre increased
2 slices (56g)
2.5g
Cereals
Serving Size
Total Fibre
All Bran
One Minute Oats
Rolled Oats
Weetbix
¾ cup (45g)
½ cup (45g)
½ cup raw (55g)
2 biscuits (30g)
Rice-brown
1 cup cooked (160g)
3.0g
Rice-white
1 cup cooked (175g)
1.5g
Nuts
12.5g
4.5g
4.0g
3.5g
Serving Size
Total fibre
Almonds
50g
4.5g
Cashews
50g
3.0g
Fruits
Serving Size
Total Fibre
Apple
1 medium cored (150g)
3.0g
Avocado
½ large (110g)
1.5g
Bananas
1 small (120g) weighed with skin
2.0g
Grapes
100g
1.0g
Kiwi Fruit
1 average (90g)
3.0g
Mango
1 medium (250g)
5.0g
Melon -Rock
Fresh cubed,1cup (160g)
1.5g
Olives-Medium
6 Black (40g), 6 green (50g)
1.5g
Oranges
1 medium (180g)
3.5g
Passionfruit
1 average (40g)
3.0g
Paw Paw
Fresh,cubed (100g)
2.5g
Peaches
1 medium (140g)
2.0g
Pears (Packham)
1 medium (160g)
4.0g
Pineapple
1 slice (120g)
2.5g
Prunes
pitted (50g)
6.5g
Raisins
30g
1.5g
Strawberries
½ Punnet (125g)
3.0g
Vegetables
Baked beans-canned
Serving size
½ cup (110g)
4.5g
Beans-fresh
½ cup
1.5g
Broccoli
100g
4.0g
Brussell sprouts
100g
3.5g
Cabbage
½ cup raw (40g)
0.5g
Carrot
½ cup cooked (70g)
3.0g
Lettuce
2 leaves cos or iceberg
0.5g
Potato-Baked/skin
1 (200g)
2.5g
Potato-chips/thick
100g
3.5g
Pumpkin
cooked (85g)
1.5g
Spinach
1 cup,raw (35g)
1.0g
Tomatoes
1 medium raw (160g)
2.0g
Top Drawer/fibre in food 2008
Total Fibre
Daily Intake Fibre
Recommendation:
20-30g