Dietary fibre could aid weight loss and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes

Dietary fibre can increase the amount of good bacteria in the gut, a new study suggests. Increasing your intake of dietary fibre, therefore, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, and a number of other diseases.
The research, conducted at the University of Illinois, illustrated that two specific functional fibres in particular, polydextrose and soluble corn fibre, may contribute to weight loss, as long as they are incorporated into the diet over an extended period of time and consumed on a daily basis.
Dr. Kelly Swanso, professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois, said: “We have already been able to identify what bacteria are there and the changes that occur with diet, and now we are asking if we can change the machinery or the capacity of what functions the bacteria have. Knowing what bacteria are there may matter, but it may not matter as much as identifying their function.”
Research like this is increasing what we know about the capabilities of bacteria, and how the production of different kinds of bacteria can be affected.
This is good news for people with type 2 diabetes particularly those who are aiming to lose weight. That said, we already know that fibre is hugely beneficial to people with diabetes. Low fibre intake has been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
In addition, fibre is not broken down by the body, which means that it doesn’t increase blood sugar levels as dramatically as other carbohydrates. Soluble fibre lowers cholesterol levels and improves blood glucose control if eaten in large amounts.
However, most of the foods that contain fibre also contain non-fibre carbohydrates (foods such as bread, cereal, pasta, and fruit and vegetables), which must be taken into account when planning meals.