My digestive Health

It’s a little known fact that healthy and efficient digestion is one key to help feeling good each day.

By including more natural wheat bran fiber in your diet your whole body will thank you and say hello to a bran-new you.

Your digestive tract is a series of chambers, each of which has a different function. Digestion is simply the process of breaking down all the food and liquids we consume into nutrients that the body can absorb.

Food that isn’t digested or absorbed during digestion becomes waste. This includes fiber, which escapes the digestive enzymes in the small intestine and moves into the large intestine.

In order to function efficiently the digestive tract needs the following:

Eat Regularly – digestion responds best to small regular meals rather than large infrequent meals. Topping up the system regularly will help to keep everything moving nicely in the right direction.
Fiber – a neglected nutrient of which 80% of us eat too little. Fiber acts like a sponge, absorbing fluid to form a soft bulky mass that can easily move through the body.
Fluid – to allow fiber to work. Without fluid, fiber remains hard and compact, which could result in constipation.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. “What We Eat in America,” Nutrient Intakes from Food by Gender and Age. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010. http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12355000/pdf/0910/Table_1_NIN_GEN_09.pdf. Accessed December 14, 2012.

How long does it take to digest a meal?

To be totally honest, it’s hard to tell. Every single one of us is different so it can range from anywhere between 17 and 55 hours. The digestive tract is around 9-10 meters long and it typically takes around 3-4 hours for food to get past the stomach. It then spends about two hours in the small intestine where most of the nutrients are absorbed. Finally, passage (called transit) through the large intestine can take anywhere between 12 to 50 hours. Digestive transit time can be shortened by eating a diet high in fiber.

How can I help my digestion?

Unhealthy foods, emotional upheaval – it all takes its toll on your digestive system. You might not notice it straight away, as the body is built to withstand these stresses but before long, problems will set in. Follow these steps and your digestive health should flourish.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Eat slowly and regularly
Choose high-fiber foods*
Keep active
Reduce and manage your stress levels
Don’t smoke and limit alcohol intake

*Foods are high in fiber when they contain 5 or more grams of fiber per labeled serving. They are a good source of fiber when they contain 3 g or more per labeled serving. Checking food labels in the supermarket to compare fiber levels is a great start to achieving a higher fiber intake.

Just one serving of your favorite Kellogg's All-Bran cereal will provide between 5g and 13g fiber, providing you with up to 51% of the daily value for fiber.

What causes occasional irregularity?

There are a number of things that increase the chances of occasional irregularity. These include:

Not eating enough fiber, such as natural wheat bran, fruit and vegetables
A change in your routine or lifestyle, such as your eating habits
Ignoring the urge to pass stools
Side effects of certain medication
Not drinking enough fluids
Anxiety or depression

Why not try our delicious recipes to boost fiber intake throughout the day.

How does dietary fiber help to relieve occasional irregularity?

Dietary fiber, like the natural wheat bran found in Kellogg’s All-Bran, provides bulk to stools and helps to move food through the digestive system. It passes through the system undigested and adds to the volume of waste, particularly if it’s holding water. A large, soft mass is much easier to move along the digestive tract and pass out of the body.

The importance of fiber

Although not absorbed, fiber is an essential nutrient for the body. Nine out of ten women eat less fiber than is recommended for good health.

HEALTHY INVESTMENTS

Feel All-Bran New

See how easy it is to mark the start of a bran-new you feeling great. Learn to make healthy investments in yourself and make your day, well, great.

Find Your Healthy Future

HEALTHY INVESTMENTS

Feel All-Bran New

See how easy it is to mark the start of a bran-new you feeling great. Learn to make healthy investments in yourself and make your day, well, great.

Find Your Healthy Future

HEALTHY INVESTMENTS

Feel All-Bran New

See how easy it is to mark the start of a bran-new you feeling great. Learn to make healthy investments in yourself and make your day, well, great.

Find Your Healthy Future