Day 4

Today I feel properly invested in the Five Day Challenge. My breakfast routine has become a welcome habit. I had Sultana Bran this morning, which has always been one of my favourite cereals, in fact. I added some berries and seeds for extra crunch too. I genuinely feel that my digestion seems to be running more efficiently. I asked Dr Ciara Kelly a few questions on the Five Day Challenge and digestion in general ?

What should be expected from the Five Day Challenge?

Kellogg’s recently recruited over 100 women to try out the All-Bran Five Day Challenge, and the results speak for themselves. Almost 9 out of 10 women reported a change in their digestive discomfort within 5 days of swapping their usual breakfast for a bowl of All-Bran. Women told us that they felt lighter and more energetic as result, and many said that improvements in their general wellbeing were felt by day 3 of the challenge.*

Will there be any other changes?

Many participants in our research* told us that they began feeling benefits to their digestive health and overall wellbeing as early as day 3 of the challenge. As well as this, women reported that they felt fuller after eating All-Bran compared to their normal breakfast choice – so I urge you to make the switch today to feel the benefits for yourself!

Will eating more fibre impact on general health?

Eating more fibre can positively impact general health as a result of it’s benefits to our digestive health. ?A high fibre diet should always be complemented by drinking lots of water to make sure everything is running smoothly!

What other measures should we take for digestive health?

Both digestive health and general health can be improved by following a healthy diet. When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is the key to getting it right – this means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions. A diet based on starchy foods such as potatoes, rice and pasta; with plenty of fruit and vegetables; some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and lentils; some milk and dairy foods; and not too much fat, salt or sugar, can give you all the nutrients you need.Other great tips for maintaining optimal digestive, and overall health, are to make sure you’re keeping active and make sure you ”go” regularly.

Probiotics are big news lately, should we all be taking them? Do they complement a high fibre diet?

Sometimes, it feels like we are bombarded with information on what makes the perfect ‘healthy’ diet. Generally speaking, and for most people, having a healthy balanced diet is adequate for maintaining optimal health. ?Keep it simple – the best way to have a healthy gut is to eat a healthy diet.

How can I tell if my breakfast cereal is high in fibre?

Reading the labels is the simplest way to tell whether you are getting a high fibre breakfast. Breakfast cereals that have a fibre content of more than 6g of fibre per 100g are classed as high fibre options, and there are many varieties available. The All-Bran range is great as it contains natural wheat bran fibre, which is an effective cereal fibre for improving digestive health, and comes in lots of tasty varieties, with a fibre content ranging from 2.7g per serving to 11g per serving.

What other sources of fibre are key for us to include in our diets?

Cereal fibre comes from breakfast cereal but also brown bread, brown rice or pasta, so these are good. ?But also make sure to get your 5 portions of fruit and veg in everyday! Stringy veg like cabbage or capsulated ones like peas are good options,and when it comes to fruit, always eat the skin where possible.

Are you an advocate of the Paleo and Clean Eating trends so prevalent now?

I believe strongly in ?everything in moderation? and also that a diet as varied as possible will give you maximum nutrition. ?The more colours and textures in your diet, the more likely it is that you will be achieving a balanced diet. Keep it simple – healthy food, with lots of variety of the right types and the right quantity, and you can’t go wrong.