Waking up to fantastic fibre

With ‘fibremaxxing’ identified as one of the food trends of 2026, HANNA GEISSLER asks the experts what it is, and how to eat better without any side effects

- Edited by MATT NIXSON AND HANNA GEISSLER

Fibre has long been sidelined in the nutrition discussion - but this hidden hero is finally getting a chance to shine, with the hot wellness trend of "fibremaxxing". And it's long overdue, as many of us have no idea how much fibre we should be consuming, or how many grams are in an apple or slice of white bread. The knowledge gap means 96% of adults and teenagers do not meet the recommended daily fibre intake (30g and 25g), says the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey, used by governments to monitor nutrition.

This may be about to change, with the drive for fibremaxxing, which is all about increasing your fibre intake and eating more whole plant foods. And in a recent report, Marks & Spencer identified fibremaxxing as one of the five food health trends set to dominate 2026.

Experts have warned that reaching for fibre-rich foods without doing research could have unpleasant consequences. We've asked nutritionists and dietitians to give us the lowdown on how to get the best results.

WHAT IS FIBRE?

Fibre is a type of carbohydrate found in plant-based foods such as fruits, veg, grains, pulses and seeds. Unlike other nutrients, it is not digested but helps to keep the digestive system healthy and can prevent constipation, among other benefits.

Louisa Brunt, a senior nutritionist at M&S Food, describes fibre as "a hidden hero in our diets".

She says: "Internally at M&S we say that fibre is sexy! Found in plant-based foods, it's so important to our nutrition as it helps keep our digestive system running smoothly and plays an important role in supporting overall health, supporting gut health, helps us stay fuller for longer, stabilises blood sugar levels and supports heart health by reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol."

High-fibre diets have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.