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Topics: Food and Drink, TikTok, Health, Women's Health
Jen Thomas
Topics: Food and Drink, TikTok, Health, Women's Health
TikTok has given us many things – dance trends to injure yourself trying, make-up looks that take hours to perfect, and more music careers have been launched than ever before.
It’s also home to some pretty weird beauty trends and questionable health advice.
Mouth taping anyone? What about moon masking? (Trust us, don’t look that one up if you’re eating)
You also can’t scroll without seeing a new diet tip or trend: whether it’s putting cottage cheese in absolutely everything, or trying to cram protein powder into recipes where it shouldn’t be. Protein has had its five minutes of fame, though, and people are moving on to fibre, and ‘fibremaxxing’.
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With the rise of people taking so-called weight loss jabs, many people have found they need to drastically up their fibre intake, thanks to constipation, bloating, and other effects, but some people are taking it too far.
Now, a gut doctor has issued a warning against the trend, saying it can do more harm than good.
‘Fibremaxxing’ is the practice of eating as much dietary fibre as you possibly can, and fans of the method say they have seen their digestion improve, are feeling fuller for longer, and have enhanced energy levels, as well as the obvious bonus of regular toilet trips.
Dr Max Gowland is a biochemist with more than 40 years of experience in health and nutrition. He warned via the Daily Mail that any ‘detoxification’ claims should be ignored: “This concept goes beyond simply eating vegetables and fruits—which is a great way to increase your intake of vital vitamins and minerals—and extends to nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, and fibre powders.”
“The goal is frequently to reach 40–50 grams of fibre per day or more, compared with the recommended 30 grams for adults in the UK.”
Fibre is an essential part of your diet for your digestive system to function properly, and can lower cholesterol as well as reduce blood sugars, and can decrease the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
Most Brits only consume 60 per cent of this target.
However, the expert has warned that suddenly increasing your fibre intake, or consuming excessive amounts, can do the opposite of what you want.
Symptoms can include bloating and constipation, and can even cause blockages.
Dr Gowland says: “Too much fibre too quickly can irritate the gut and overwhelm the digestive system.”
He added: “Extreme intake may reduce absorption of minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc.”
“High-fibre diets without adequate fluids can lead to hard stools or blockages, and excessive fibre from supplements is particularly risky if combined with low water intake.”
Drinking enough water is key, and increasing your intake gradually.
He added: “Fibremaxxing can create a false sense of being ‘super healthy’ while ignoring overall diet balance and may reduce protein or fat intake if people replace nutrient-dense foods with fibre alone.”
Dr Gowland finished by saying fibre is a ‘tool, not a magic solution’ and advised that ‘more is not always better, and a holistic, varied diet remains key for long-term health.’