Adding more fibre and plants to your diet can have a myriad of benefits (Image: GETTY)
Professor Tim Spector teamed up with chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to empower folks with fresh insights from this year’s health studies, showing them how to put the scientific results to use in their kitchens.
On the , the professor highlighted research claiming that just an extra five grams of fibre daily can significantly reduce your mortality risk.
Professor Tim divulged: “The magic figure is for every five grams of fibre, you’re going to reduce your overall risk of mortality by about 14%. Reduce your risk of dying by around a sixth just by five grams of fibre.”
He pointed out that hitting this “magic figure” isn’t as tough as it sounds, given that the average person already consumes about 15 grams of fibre in their regular diet.
To maximise health perks, the experts suggest sourcing those additional grams of fibre from plants, specifically aiming for 30 different plant types each week.
:
While this may seem a tall order compared to an extra 5 grams a day, the added health advantages are equally substantial.
The professor noted that plant-based fibres come packed with polyphenols and other compounds that not only cut cancer risk but also boost mood and keep hunger at bay.
Not all greens make the grade, it seems. To truly tap into the benefits of polyphenols, plant lovers are given clues: “The shape, the colour and the taste, they’re all clues as to the polyphenol count.
“The more bitter and strong, if the leaves are loose that means they’ve had less protection, so they’ve had to be tougher.”
Don’t miss… [GUIDE]
Celebrity chef Hugh remarks that their joint effort won’t have Brits rummaging for “obscure plant ingredients you haven’t heard of and might not like”.
Instead, he assured that there are countless familiar plants like fruits, veg, nuts, herbs, and spices already in our diets.
Plus, elsewhere on the podcast, the Professor highlighted that coffee is more than just a caffeine fix, offering up more fibre than a banana – though he recommended avoiding instant coffee if you’re after these health perks.