No, Fibre Isn’t Useless – Why Dr Ede's Comments on DOAC Are Wrong

Fibre helps blood sugar, and no, you don’t need to cut carbs.

Ede begins by discussing the role of fibre in blood sugar regulation. She said: 

“So if you're eating a high carbohydrate diet, fibre can soften your glucose spikes and that's a plus. But there's a more effective way to lower your glucose spikes, it is to not get a glucose spike in the first place and that may not require taking all the carbohydrate out of your diet, it might just mean lowering it to your personal tolerance.” 

It’s true that certain types of dietary fibre influence your blood sugar levels after a meal. When ingested, viscous soluble fibre forms a gel-like substance in your stomach that slows digestion, leading to a more gradual absorption of carbohydrates and preventing rapid blood sugar spikes. 

And while Georgia’s statement that “a more effective way to lower your glucose spikes is not to get a glucose spike” is technically accurate, it lacks important context and is ultimately misleading. 

Many nutrient-rich foods in a balanced diet naturally cause some level of glucose to increase, which is a normal and healthy response to food. The goal shouldn’t be to eliminate all glucose spikes but to manage them effectively. Rather than cutting out foods that cause any rise in blood sugar, the focus should be on reducing frequent and extreme spikes from high-sugar, low-fibre foods. 

Fibre Supports Digestive Health – Even If It’s Not a “Broom” for Your Colon.

Ede goes on to claim, “Another thing people often say about fibre is that it sweeps your colon clean of toxins that might otherwise build up and cause problems. But there's no evidence that fibre is sweeping anything clean or there's never been a study that demonstrates this.” 

This claim oversimplifies and distorts the role of fibre, using a straw man fallacy to dismiss its well-documented benefits. While fibre doesn’t literally “sweep” the colon like a broom, it plays a crucial role in digestive health by adding bulk to stool and promoting regular bowel movements. This helps move waste efficiently through the intestines, reducing the risk of constipation, bloating, and digestive disorders like diverticulitis.

In fact, the scientific evidence is so overwhelming that a recent review published in Nutrients states:

“Of all the beneficial effects of dietary fibre, perhaps the most widely known and appreciated is the effect on gut motility and prevention of constipation. Many studies support such an effect, which appears incontrovertible based on the available evidence.”

Although the body has its own detoxification systems—including the liver and kidneys, which remove toxins—fibre still plays a key role in digestion and elimination. Despite some mixed research, it’s highly likely that a high-fibre diet reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. Research suggests that fibre reduces cancer risk through mechanisms such as:

• Increasing stool bulk and diluting carcinogens in the colon;
• Reducing transit time, meaning harmful substances spend less time in the digestive tract;
• Fermenting into short-chain fatty acids, which support gut health and may have protective effects.

While fibre doesn’t physically “sweep” toxins away, it undeniably supports digestive health and waste elimination. 

‍Fibre couldn’t be more important for your digestion. 

‍Ede continues with: “the biggest myth about fibre is that it's good for digestion because fibre by definition is indigestible by humans.”It's true that dietary fibre is indigestible by human enzymes; however, this indigestibility is precisely what makes fibre beneficial for digestion. Dr Alan Desmond, Consultant Gastroenterologist and gut health specialist said: