A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

FIBRE CONTROLLED DIET

What is a Fibre Controlled Diet ?

Fibre is the roughage found in cereals, fruit and vegetables. A lot of it is broken down only slowly by digestive juices and therefore tends to stay in the gut. A variety of illnesses are thought to be at least partly caused by too little intake of fibre. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, certain types of heart disease and a variety of bowel problems, including bowel cancer. Therefore, some advisory groups have suggested that a minimum of 15 g (1/2 oz) of fibre should be taken each day in the diet. On the other hand, a reduced fibre diet is advisable in certain medical conditions. This is what we will discuss here.

What is a Fibre Controlled Diet used for ?

Fibre makes the motions soft, bulky and easy to pass. However, in some bowel conditions, a low fibre diet may help to stop blockages in the bowel. Some doctors advise it for the condition called diverticulitis. In this disorder, little pockets develop in the lining of the lower bowel (colon). These pockets can become blocked and infected, causing pain.

How does a Fibre Controlled Diet work ?

We are not quite sure, but inflamed bowel does not seem to take kindly to roughage. Obviously this condition needs medical supervision. It is not a good idea to cut back on fibre for too long at a time: as mentioned above, fibre is a useful and important ingredient in the everyday diet.

What does a Fibre Controlled Diet involve ?

Foods allowed on a low fibre diet include white bread, and toast, plain biscuits, white pasta and rice, sago, arrowroot, cornflour, white flour, breakfast cereals such as Rice Krispies, Ricicles, Sugar Puffs and Cornflakes, and plain cake, for example Victoria sponge. All meat and fish are allowed. All drinks are allowed, unless you have been advised to avoid alcohol by your doctor. The only vegetables allowed are potatoes without skins. Dairy products allowed include milk, cheese, eggs, cream, plain and flavoured yoghurts. Miscellaneous foods include sugar, honey, clear jam or marmalade, clear jelly, boiled sweets, ice cream, chocolate, Marmite, Bovril, stock cubes and clear soups. Foods to avoid on a low fibre diet include wholemeal and granary bread, high fibre loaves, wholemeal biscuits such as digestives, biscuits and cakes containing fruit or nuts, wholemeal pasta and rice, wholemeal flour, bran cereals, All Bran, Weetabix, Shredded Wheat, Muesli. Avoid all fruit and vegetables including beans, lentils, pulses and salad. Miscellaneous foods to avoid include marmalade, jam with pips or peel, nuts, fruit or muesli yoghurt, chocolate with fruit or nuts and vegetable soup. In normal circumstances and when the bowel is working properly, all of these sorts of foods would actually be encouraged and included in the diet regularly.

What to watch out for with a Fibre Controlled Diet

If fibre is restricted long term you may need a multivitamin and mineral supplement. Please check with your doctor or dietitian. Bowel operations sometimes involve making an external opening: a colostomy or an ileostomy. For these, it is important to include fibre in the diet. In colostomy patients fibre in the diet helps to prevent constipation. In people with an ileostomy, fibre particularly from beans and pulses can help absorb some of the fluid. Marshmallows and bananas seem to work well and are worth trying! For the conditions of Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome, your doctor or dietitian will advise individually.