For ages, we have heard specialists talk about the innumerable benefits of eating a diet high in fibre, both soluble and insoluble. It benefits your digestive and heart health besides aiding in controlling blood sugar levels. You can easily get the fibre from daily food items like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Nuts, cucumber, lentils, banana, whole grain, apple, beans, barley and mooring leaves are some of the common high-fibre foods people consume in India.
However, not many people know that a dearth in fibre intake can lead to cognitive impairment. It could also affect your moods. According to studies, a high level of dietary fibre intake, on the other hand, is related to a lower risk of anxiety.
In this article, we discuss some of the mental benefits of including fibre in your diet by Harvard psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, as shared on Instagram :
Reduced stress: What you eat can impact your stress levels. According to research published in The Journal of Physiology, eating high-fibre foods may reduce stress effects. The connection between gut bacteria and stress-related disorders such as anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome has been studied in recent years.
Improved mood: Eating a diet high in fibre can lift your mood. According to a new study, people who consume high amounts of fibre are less stressed and have a more positive mood. Instead of going for processed foods, choosing fruits and nuts as your mid-meal snacks is thus a good option.
Increased serotonin: According to research, eating fibre can increase the availability of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA. People with depression and anxiety generally report low levels of serotonin.
Delayed brain-ageing: Want to prevent degenerative diseases? Eating fibre can delay the onset of such ailments. Eating fibre-rich foods like broccoli, nuts, oats, and beans may delay the process as it triggers the production of a short-chain fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties, according to a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
Lowered inflammation: Eating a diet rich in fibre could help the beneficial bacteria living in the gut release substances that lower inflammation in the body. Also, eating a high-fibre diet can help in losing weight.
