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Looking to improve your digestive health? Dietitian Laura Tilt outlines the best fiber supplements available in the UK…
Related: What Are The Health Benefits Of Fiber?
Let’s talk about the ‘F word’, fiber. Not the sexiest of nutrients, but one we should pay more attention to, since it can significantly lessen our risk of conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. Long-term health aside, fiber is also crucial to daily digestive health, helping to prevent constipation and feeding the trillions of microbes that live in the gut.
Despite these benefits, most of us aren’t eating enough: the recommended intake is 30 grams a day, but average intakes are around 20 grams. Along with eating more wholegrains, fruits and vegetables, fiber supplements can help bridge the gap – here’s our pick of the best.
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5 Best Fiber Supplements 2022
- Bimuno Original (£19.99 for 30 sachets)
- Bulk Psyllium Husk Powder (£4.99 for 100g)
- Linwoods Milled Flaxseed (£2.99 for 200g)
- The Gut Stuff High Fiber Bars (£15 for 12)
- Spoon Happy Gut Granola (from £3.99)
BEST HIGH-FIBRE SNACK
The Gut Stuff High Fiber Bars
BUY IT NOW:
£15 for 12 / shop.thegutstuff.com
Fiber content: 5/5
Ease of consumption: 5/5
Sustainable packaging: 3/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
If adding fiber to your diet in the form of husks or seeds seems like a faff, look no further than these nifty bars from gut health innovators The Gut Stuff. A tasty mash up of dried fruit, nuts and chicory fiber (a microbe friendly prebiotic), each bar contains 10 grams of fiber, meaning you can tick off a third of the recommended daily intake in a ready-to-eat snack.
Available in four different flavours (PB, Apple & Cinnamon, Raspberry & Coconut, Cocoa & Hazelnut), each bar contains 120 calories and is suitable for dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free diets. An easy and delicious fiber booster.
BEST HIGH-FIBER CEREAL
Spoon Happy Gut Granola
BUY IT NOW:
From £3.99 / spooncereals.co.uk
Fiber content: 4/5
Ease of consumption: 5/5
Sustainable packaging: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
OK, Granola isn’t exactly a supplement, but hear us out. Spoon’s Happy Gut Granola is made up of the type of high-fiber ingredients you can supplement with (think oats, nuts, chicory fiber, linseed) but they’re all in one place, in the form of a tasty granola.
A 50g bowl provides almost 7g of fiber. So, if you add a piece of fruit to your bowl too, you’ll be knocking off 10g by the time breakfast is done. Or, it’s equally delicious as a mid-afternoon snack. The home-compostable inner bag gets a thumbs up, too.
BEST PREBIOTIC FIBER SUPPLEMENT
Bimuno Original
BUY IT NOW:
£19.99 for 30 sachets / bimuno.com
Fiber content: 4/5
Ease of consumption: 4/5
Sustainable packaging: 1/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Bimuno is a type of prebiotic fiber, meaning it selectively feeds beneficial microbes in the gut. Prebiotics are found in plant foods like garlic and onion, but it’s hard to quantify how much we’re consuming daily. That’s where Bimuno comes in.
Each sachet contains 2 grams of prebiotic fiber. Taken daily, studies show that Bimuno can increase levels of bifidobacteria (a group of helpful microbes with numerous health benefits) within a week. It comes as a flavourless soluble powder that can be stirred into any hot or cold drink, so simply add it to your water bottle or morning brew.
BEST SOLUBLE FIBER SUPPLEMENT
Bulk Psyllium Husk Powder
BUY IT NOW:
£4.99 for 100 grams / bulk.com
Fiber content: 3/5
Ease of consumption: 2.5/5
Sustainable packaging: 4/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
Psyllium husk comes from the seeds of the Plantago Ovata plant. It’s mostly soluble fiber, which soaks up water and forms a gel as it moves through the gut, making it helpful for easing hard stools (which is why it’s a common ingredient in many over the counter laxatives).
Bulk’s psyllium husk powder doesn’t have a fancy label, it’s simply the ground husk in a sealable pouch, which you can add to your diet. Start with a small amount (e.g. 2 grams, which provides around 2 grams of fiber) for a few days before gradually increasing if needed. Liquid is a must, too, so it’s best added to a shake, smoothie, or juice.
BEST FOR ADDING TO CEREALS & SMOOTHIES
Linwoods Milled Flaxseed
BUY IT NOW:
£2.99 for 200g / linwoodshealthfoods.com
Fiber content: 3/5
Ease of consumption: 4/5
Sustainable packaging: 2/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
Flaxseeds (a.k.a. linseeds) are 28% fiber by weight and contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which are both important for digestive health. There’s evidence that flaxseeds can help ease bloating and constipation when taken consistently. Plus, they’re also an IBS-friendly fiber choice as they have fewer gassy side effects when compared with other fiber types.
Linwoods’ flaxseed is milled into a powder which is easy to sprinkle on porridge, cereal, or yogurt. A dessert spoon will add 2.5 grams of fiber to your breakfast for around 15p, making this a cost effective and simple way to boost your fiber intake.