Digestive Health
Importance of digestive health
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have linked higher intakes of dietary fibre with lower rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancers36. It is also well understood that dietary fibre plays a vital role in digestive health.
However, the NHMRC went beyond identifying dietary fibre as a key component in every healthy diet, they specifically identified a "new" form of fibre, Resistant Starch as being particularly valuable for health. Indeed, the NHMRC stated that in relation to traditional forms of dietary fibre…
"…Resistant Starch may be as significant if not more so for many health conditions"36.
In developing the new dietary fibre advice and the decision to specifically include a Resistant Starch component, Dr. Katrine Baghurst, Chair of the Nutrient Reference Values Working Party commented:
"We considered the scientific evidence showing a positive impact of Resistant Starch on digestive health convincing and warranted inclusion in the new fibre intake recommendations."
Dietary fibre is found only in plant and carbohydrate foods such as breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables and legumes. Dietary fibre is not digested in the small intestine, but moves through the intestinal tract to the large intestine where it is fermented by friendly bacteria10.
There are many types of dietary fibre, but the three main categories are
- Soluble fibre
- Insoluble fibre
- Resistant Starch
A healthy diet should contain a combination of all three of these types of fibre.
Breads are an important part of a healthy diet and are included as a core food group in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating9 as well as the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia33. Different sorts of bread contain different levels of fibre. Wonder White® bread contains a minimum of 6.0g of fibre per 100g. This is more fibre than regular mixed grain breads which contain 4.8g of fibre per 100g*.
In May 2006, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released its report "Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand" including "Recommended Dietary Intakes" and for the first time provided fibre intake figures for children and adolescents as well as adults.
They are called "Adequate Intake" figures and include an allowance for Resistant Starch:
Children and Adolescents Adequate Intake
All
1-3 years 14g/day
4-8 years 18g/day
Boys
9-13 years 24g/day
14-18 years 28g/day
Girls
9-13 years 20g/day
14-18 years 22g/day
What is GI?
The GI, or Glycaemic Index, ranks carbohydrates according to their effect on blood glucose levels. Eating low GI foods (with a GI rating of 55 or less) through the day helps manage blood glucose, meaning glucose levels rise and fall gently over a longer time6.
Why should I give my child Low GI foods?
According to nutritionist Shane Landon, Low GI foods help children in the following ways:
Play - Low GI foods have a slower, sustained energy release6, providing the energy they need for an active afternoon's playtime.
School - A low GI breakfast increases your child's blood-sugar levels gradually, providing sustained energy to help them concentrate in the classroom6.
Sports - Athletes have long believed that eating low GI carbohydrates prolongs physical endurance6 and the same applies to kids playing sport.
Homework - The glucose from low GI foods can help fuel your child's brain6 so a low GI afternoon snack will provide the vital fuel they need to complete their homework before dinner.
Hunger - By including low GI foods in main meals, your child will feel fuller for longer6 making them less likely to scour the fridge and pantry for junk food!
Wonder White® contains a GI rating of 59 (medium), lower than regular white bread with a GI Rating of 706. Click here to view the Wonder White® Lower GI nutritional information.
Nutrition and Meal Plans
The entire Wonder White® range has more fibre than regular mixed grain bread which contains 4.8g of fibre per 100g*. Wonder White® contains a minimum of 6.0g of fibre per 100g and contains no artificial preservatives, meaning Aussie Mums can give their kids the fibre they need, in the soft white bread kids love.
Other high fibre foods include:
- Fresh fruit – oranges, apples, grapes, bananas etc
- Dried fruits – little sultana packs are very popular
- Plain nuts – just a small handful of almonds adds fibre
- Carrot sticks – finger food they can eat on the go
- Baked Beans – served on a slice of high fibre white bread for extra fibre
- Vegetables – corn, peas, green beans etc add fibre and liked by most kids
- Potato – leave the skin on for additional fibre
- Rolled oats – great on chilly winter mornings
- Brown rice
