Dietary fibre helps keep our digestive tract in good working order and is particularly important in helping to keep you regular, especially in the later stages of pregnancy.

The term fibre describes not just one, but a number of compounds, all of which are found in plant foods such as cereals, fruit and vegetables, beans and pulses.

Fibre can be divided into two groups - insoluble and soluble. Both groups help keep the body healthy in a different way.

Insoluble fibre, which is found mainly in high fibre cereals and breads but also in fruit, vegetables and pulses, functions to help maintain regularity. It helps minimise constipation by adding bulk to stools, making them easier to pass. Remember to drink plenty of fluid when consuming a high fibre diet.

Sometimes referred to as ‘nature’s broom’, insoluble fibre also speeds the passage of waste material through the body.

Soluble fibre, found in oats, barley, psyllium, beans and pulses and some fruit and vegetables, help to slow the rate of digestion and help to reduce cholesterol re-absorption.

The recommended intake for fibre for adults is 30g a day for men and 25g a day for women. Most of us need to increase our current fibre intake in order to reach this target.

Choosing a high fibre breakfast cereal like All-Bran® or Sultana Bran can help boost your daily fibre intake.