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When people digest fibre, an appetite-suppressing compound is released, new research shows
British research has showed that when we digest fibre, it releases an appetite-quenching compound called acetate.
However, the average European today eats just half an ounce of fibre a day – around one-seventh of that eaten by our caveman ancestors.
Study author Gary Frost, of Imperial College London, said: ‘We now favour low-fibre ready meals over vegetables, pulses and other sources of fibre.
‘Unfortunately, our digestive system has not yet evolved to deal with this modern diet and this mismatch contributes to the current obesity epidemic.’
Acetate, is naturally released when fibre in food broken down in the gut.
It is then ferried to the brain, where it produces a signal that tells us to stop eating, the journal Nature Communications reports.
The finding could lead to an acetate-based diet pill or a super-fibre that produces more acetate than usual.
This would mean that people could reap the benefits of acetate without making massive changes to their diets.
With around two-thirds of Britons overweight or obese and just one weight loss drug on the market, there is an urgent need for new ways of stopping people overeating.
This compound travels to people's brains where it sends signals to encourage them to stop eating
Good sources of fibre include wholemeal and wholegrain bread, wholegrain breakfast cereals, brown rice, fruit and vegetables, beans and lentils.
Previous research has shown that fibre can protect against asthma by reducing inflammation of the lungs.
It is also thought to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, most notably bowel cancer.
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