Name: Fibremaxxing.<\/p>\n
Age: Brand new.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re talking about superfast broadband, right? We are not.<\/p>\n
Moral fibre? Nope. Indirectly perhaps \u2026<\/p>\n
Kellogg\u2019s All-Bran? Maybe if this was the 1980s. But yes, that kind of fibre. These days it\u2019s more likely to be chia seeds.<\/p>\n
What are those? Edible seeds of Salvia hispanica, a plant native to Mexico. Crucially high in fibre.<\/p>\n
So is my doormat. Eat that if you like, but its nutritional value is questionable.<\/p>\n
And the maxxing bit? Getting the most out of something. See also sleepmaxxing, flavormaxxing \u2026<\/p>\n
Are you sure about the double x? I\u2019m thinking about faxing \u2026 What is that?<\/p>\n
Something in the 1980s. Never mind \u2026 It\u2019s probably because it\u2019s from America. Note also the lack of a \u201cu\u201d in \u201cflavor\u201d and it\u2019s spelled \u201cfibermaxxing\u201d there.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m guessing this is a gen Z social media trend, right? This time, yes, you\u2019re right. It\u2019s all over TikTok \u2026<\/p>\n
I knew that was coming! The New York Times quotes a 25-year-old wellness content creator called Pamela Corral, who posts TikToks of herself eating foods that are high in fibre, one of which got over 10m views.<\/p>\n
And what does Pamela have to say about fibre\/fiber? \u201cI try to eat it often. So I can make videos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Excellent reason. Anything else? \u201cFiber is super-cool \u2013 I think more people should be eating fiber.\u201d<\/p>\n
That is super-cool. I\u2019m just wondering if that counts as good, evidence-based nutritional advice? So here\u2019s the thing \u2013 and this certainly isn\u2019t true for all social media fads \u2013 actual experts kind of agree.<\/p>\n
Go on. A landmark study<\/a> published in 2019 found that a fibre-rich diet reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer by 16-24%.<\/p>\n So fibre is super-cool, and more people should be eating it, in other words. Yes! Fibre also contributes to a healthy gut and brain<\/a>. And a 7g daily increase in fibre (what you get from approximately half a tin of beans) can lower the risk<\/a> of noncommunicable diseases (that aren\u2019t spread from person to person) by up to 9%.<\/p>\n And if I don\u2019t want the beans, where else can I get my fibre from? So many places.<\/a> Starchy foods, whole grains and potatoes with the skin on. Porridge, rather than sugary cereal, for breakfast. Lots of fruit and vegetables \u2026<\/p>\n I know, the old five a day \u2026 No you don\u2019t know. That\u2019s old news: it\u2019s now eight a day.<\/p>\n