For years, protein has been the hyperfixation of the wellness industry writ large—but there are signs that the tide may be turning. In recent months, a new trend known as fibermaxxing has thrust the titular nutrient into the spotlight, a refreshing change of pace for the experts SELF spoke to. “It’s great that people are paying a little bit more attention to their fiber intake because it’s really important for our gut health,” Janice Dada, MPH, RDN, a certified intuitive eating counselor based in California, tells SELF.
But to reduce fiber to its gut health effects underestimates the power of the nutrient. Sure, it may be best known for helping you go to the bathroom, but it wears many other hats, aiding in controlling blood sugar, managing weight, lowering harmful cholesterol, supporting immunity, preventing inflammation, and boosting cognitive performance, to name a few. What’s more, eating plenty of fiber also helps lower your risk of serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several types of cancer, including the colorectal variety, which is rising rapidly among young people. In short, there are many health reasons to prioritize fiber in your diet besides the pooping perks.
Given that SELF previously reported on the high-protein trend (and not in the most positive light), we decided it was only fair to turn the same critical eye on fibermaxxing. “I’m always cautious of these trends because they can be a bit extreme, [but] I do like the attention it’s brought to fiber,” Federica Amati, PhD, MPH, MSc, a medical scientist who serves as nutrition lead at Imperial College London and chief nutrition scientist at ZOE, tells SELF. Read on to learn why experts prefer the fiber focus to the protein panic—albeit with some significant reservations—and what you should keep in mind if you’re thinking about trying it yourself.
So…what exactly is fibermaxxing?
If you’re at all familiar with the Gen Z slang term maxxing, an abbreviation of maximizing, you can probably figure this one out pretty easily: Fibermaxxing refers to the practice of consuming as much fiber as possible for the perceived health benefits. If you mosey on over to TikTok, you’ll find fibermaxxing enthusiasts recommending high-fiber foods (like chia seeds, black beans, and raspberries), posting photos of their high-fiber meals (roasted salads seem to be particularly popular), and even sharing high-fiber recipes (the disgustingly named poop bread immediately springs to mind). Even coffee has been roped in, as one video of a creator scooping prebiotic fiber powder into her morning cup shows.
Many fibermaxxers cite increased “regularity”—a euphemism for pooping more often—as the primary reason to hop on the fiber train. Improved digestion may be only one of the many pros of a healthy fiber intake, but it seems to drive fibermaxxing’s entire existence. Dr. Amati believes fibermaxxing is a direct consequence of a growing interest in all things gut-related, especially since a large proportion of adults suffer from digestive issues like constipation and IBS. “When you have these kinds of symptoms every day, it does interfere with your life, so addressing gut health has become something people want to do for themselves because they know they can influence it with their diet,” she says.
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