A well-functioning digestive system can make a big difference to your quality of life. Here’s how to keep things in balance.

Your Digestive System

The human digestive system is made up of the digestive tract, the salivary glands, liver, stomach, gall bladder and pancreas. The digestive tract is a long tube which breaks down food and enables nutrients to be absorbed into the body for energy, growth and repair.

The Keys to Digestive Health

Dietary fibre is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system and is obtained solely from foods of plant origin. It comes in two main types: soluble fibre and insoluble fibre.

Soluble Fibre

Soluble fibre slows the breakdown of starches into glucose, which in turn can lead to reduced levels of sugar in the blood. Soluble fibre can also help reduce cholesterol levels. Good sources: whole grains such as oats, barley, and rye; fruit, vegetables, legumes.

Insoluble Fibre

This type of fibre is not digested or absorbed by the body, so it helps keep the gastrointestinal tract clean and promotes regular bowel movements. Good sources: brown rice, wholemeal bread, whole-grain cereals, nuts, seeds.

Fibre-rich foods increase the feeling of fullness after a meal, which can help with weight control. Your total fibre intake should be at least 25g per day, depending on your age and gender. For men it is at least 30g. Most adult Australians obtain less fibre from their food intake than they need each day.

Breads in the Bodhi’s range which will help maintain good digestive balance:

Lupin Bread

Sprouted Bread