More about Haemorrhoids
The
veins around the anus drain into larger veins that carry the blood through the
liver and up to the heart. This part of the system of large veins has no valves
in it, and the whole weight of the blood bears down on the lowest veins in the
system, that tend to stretch. Anything restricting the free upward flow of blood
through these veins leads to an increase in pressure in them. This is why
haemorrhoids are so common in pregnancy.
Do
you have a low fibre diet?
What
is fibre?
Dietary
fibre is the undigested remains of plant materials, particularly indigestible
plant carbohydrates (i.e. the non-starch polysaccharides). Fibre is found only
in foods derived from plants, and all plant food provides some fibre; how much
depends on whether it has been processed. Unpeeled fruit and vegetables and
whole meal or whole-grain cereal foods (which still contain the outer layers of
the grain) will provide the most. For example, brown rice can contain seven
times more fibre than white rice. The exact balance of the various components of
dietary fibre (cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin and lignin) varies between
foods.
Soluble
and insoluble fibre
Dietary
fibre can be soluble or insoluble. Soluble fibre
dissolves in the gut, to form a viscous gel that slows down the release of some
nutrients, particularly the sugar glucose, into the bloodstream; it is therefore
good for diabetics. It can also reduce the risk of heart disease, by reducing
blood cholesterol levels. Soluble fibre is present in fruit, vegetables, pulses
(e.g. kidney beans, baked beans, lentils) and foods containing oats, barley or
rye. Insoluble fibre has a sponge-like effect in the gut, soaking up water and
swelling in size. This effect produces a feeling of fullness and adds bulk to
the gut contents, making waste matter heavier and speeding it through the large
intestine, and thus reducing the risk of constipation, and possibly even cancers
of the digestive system. Cereal and grain products (e.g. bread, flour, breakfast
cereals, rice, pasta), especially whole meal varieties, and fibrous vegetables
(e.g. carrots and celery) are primary sources of insoluble fibre.
Fibre
is good for us
Unlike,
sugar, salt and fat, fibre is something most people should eat more of. The
overall nutritional balance of our diets could be improved just by eating a few
more high-fibre foods. However, fibre in an isolated form such as bran (the
outer layers of cereal grain, which are removed when grain is milled such as in
the preparation of white rice or white flour) is not the answer because bran can
actually reduce the absorption of minerals. Fibre is thought to be far more
beneficial if it is consumed as an integral part of food, rather than as bran
supplements or fibre-containing drinks.
Sources
of dietary fibre
