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More fibre in your diet to help heart and cut cancer risk

A campaign has been launched to promote the health benefits of the world's original supernutrient food– fibre.

Experts say consumers should aim for fibre instead of so-called "superfoods" and warn that Britons are not eating anywhere near the daily recommended amount.

Guidelines suggest adults should eat 25g of fibre per day, but seven in ten men, and almost nine in ten women, do not get enough.

A report, titled The New F-Word, has been issued from the Fibre Foundation, a new group health and nutrition experts.

The report says the average Briton consumes 13g of fibre a day. Doubling this could reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 40 per cent. Women eating more than 30g of fibre a day can also help to halve the chances of developing breast cancer. Fibre can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by a third, and help provide a healthier heart and digestive system.

Experts at the new foundation say fibre helps to regulate blood fats and blood pressure, as well as slow the release of sugars into the blood stream.

For every 10g more fibre eaten every day, the risk of heart disease can fall by 14 per cent.

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