Fibre: friend or foe of your digestion?
Soluble, insoluble, fermentable… We untangle what hides behind a catch-all word, without dogma.
“Eat more fibre” is one of the most repeated nutritional tips. Yet some people find that too much fibre worsens their discomfort. How to explain this paradox?
Not all fibre is equal
There’s soluble fibre, which forms a gel and slows digestion, and insoluble fibre, which speeds up transit. Add to that fermentable fibre, especially present in certain fruits, legumes and grains, which can produce gas in sensitive people.
The right amount of fibre isn’t universal: it depends on your tolerance, discovered through observation.
Finding your balance
Rather than aiming for a theoretical figure, the idea is to increase gradually and observe your reactions. Regular tracking, like Digelia’s, helps spot the threshold beyond which discomfort appears — without abruptly cutting nourishing foods.
Hydration, fibre’s partner
Fibre needs water to do its job. Increasing fibre without drinking more can paradoxically slow transit. An often-forgotten but decisive detail.