Research shows two thirds of adults don’t have a high fibre diet

Research shows the UK is missing out on the full benefits of a high fibre diet and two thirds of adults are confused about how much they should eat

The research, conducted by the bakery company, Hovis®, suggests that the UK is missing out on the full benefits a high fibre diet can bring to gut and heart health, despite high-profile campaigns to urge greater consumption.

Fibre and digestive health

2,064 adults in the UK were asked about their fibre intake and the results show people are generally confused about fibre intake.

The research shows that the majority (89%) of UK adults say they recognise that eating fibre each day is important, with just 2% saying it doesn’t matter to them. The research reveals that 79% correctly identify that fibre helps digestive health, with more than a third (38%) also recognising that it can help to maintain normal blood cholesterol levels.

Enough fibre is not being consumed – despite campaigns

However, despite high profile campaigns to get people to boost their fibre intake, just 38% of UK adults say they ensure their diet is high in fibre, regardless of the wealth of scientific evidence pointing to the health benefits that fibre brings.

Meanwhile, when asked how much fibre they consumed each day, one-in-four UK adults (24%) say they simply don’t know.

Fibre confusion

The research also reveals confusion about how much fibre we need, with half of those surveyed saying they don’t know how much fibre the average adult should eat each day, and just 14% correctly identifying that the daily target is 30g.

When asked to identify the food types that are best for delivering fibre, most UK adults could correctly identify those that are a good source. The best-known food type is bread, with four fifths of UK adults (81%) thinking that wholemeal bread is a good source of fibre.

Jeremy Gibson, Marketing Director at Hovis® commented: “There have been numerous studies that have shown the benefits of eating more fibre, yet people are still failing to eat enough of it. The rise of lower-carb diets and reduction of bread consumption are another signal that consumers could be avoiding bread and missing out on the amazing fibre benefits they bring.

“At Hovis® we are determined to play our part in helping reverse this trend and getting the UK into better shape, one meal at a time. We are working with a registered dietitian, Sarah Almond Bushell, and other experts, to provide information, recipes and advice to help the UK improve its diet.

“It’s not difficult to boost fibre intake, anyone can do it by eating more wholemeal bread, wholemeal pasta, brown rice and fruits and vegetables. Consuming enough fibre can help with digestive health, as well as maintaining normal cholesterol levels and it can taste great too.”