'I'm a nutritionist - people should eat one particular food group to lose weight'
An "often forgotten" type of carbohydrate that's usually associated with cereal could be just the thing that we need to cut our risk of cancer and lose weight.
However, it's not just useful for slimming or staving off cancer, as there's also evidence that eating fibre is linked to a reduced risk of stroke, diabetes and heart disease, according to the NHS.
Yet, it seems that many of us are missing out on our daily fibre, with data from the British Dietetic Association (BDA) revealing that the average adult eats just 60 per cent of the recommended intake.
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Meanwhile, despite the considerable benefits of fibre, the Food and Drink Federation says just nine per cent of us are consuming a sufficient quantity of it, reports the Times.
Laura Southern, a nutritionist at londonfoodtherapy.com, told the publication: "The huge uptake in high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets in recent years means fibre is often forgotten and has gained an unfair reputation for being the preserve of bland foods.
"Clients are always surprised how quickly a higher-fibre diet can work. I often see a reduction in their body fat percentage, better blood sugar control and digestive health in as little as two weeks."
The NHS says most adults consume roughly 20g of fibre each day, despite government guidelines suggesting 30g as part of a balanced diet.
Children don't require as much as older teenagers and adults, with those aged 11 to 16 needing about 25g. Foods with fibre can also help people feel fuller and aid digestion.
Healthline states that soluble fibre can help people shed fat from their bellies, with one particular study linking a 10-gram rise in fibre each day with a 3.7% reduced risk of getting stomach fat.
According to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, eating as little as 30 grams of fibre each day could be enough to help people lose weight, as well as cut their blood pressure and boost their insulin response.
Harvard Health listed a number of fibre-rich foods that can be incorporated into a diet, including cereals, oatmeal, and salad with chickpeas or kidney beans, as well as nuts such as peanuts, almonds or walnuts.
The NHS also shared a list of specific foods that can help you if you want to add more fibre into your diet, including cereals like Weetabix, Shredded Wheat, or porridge.
It also suggested wholemeal or granary breads or high-fibre white, wholewheat pasta, brown rice, skin-on potatoes, beans, lentils, vegetables and fresh or dried fruit.
You can learn more about fibre via the NHS website here.