When you toe the line of the race you’ve been training toward, you want to be focusing on your next PB, not the location of the nearest porta-potty. So a TikTok trend built around eating more fibre might not sound like an obvious fit for runners at first.
Runners already spend plenty of time thinking about food, especially carbohydrates before big workouts and races, and protein for recovery. Fibre hasn’t traditionally gotten the same hype, but lately it has become the focus of a social media trend called “fibremaxxing,” which encourages people to eat more high-fibre foods such as beans, lentils, oats, vegetables, fruit, seeds and whole grains.
As reported by the BBC, the trend comes at a time when many adults still fall (sometimes very) short of the recommended fibre intake. For runners, the idea is worth paying attention to, as long as it is approached with some caution around training and race day.
@indisupplementsHave you heard of fibermaxxing? Fibermaxxing is a health trend we can actually get behind. It’s about maximizing the amount of fibre you eat a day. We should all be getting 30g of fibre a day but studies show that 96% of us are not reaching this target! Fibre is important for so much more than just keeping us regular. It is key for gut health, brain health, immunity, lowering cholesterol, skin health and more. There is also recent evidence that fibre can help the body eliminate microplastic build up in the body. Here are 10 high fibre foods to add to your diet 🍎🍌🍠♬ original sound – INDI Supplements
More than just better digestion
Most of us have heard fibre talked about in terms of healthier digestion, but fibre-rich foods are the source of a range of health benefits, including better heart health, steadier blood sugar and support for the gut microbiome. For runners, those foods also tend to bring along other useful nutrients, including carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
If you’re logging mileage regularly, your focus should be less on “maxxing” and more on adding more whole grains and plants into your nutrition plan.
Tricky timing
Timing is important for runners. A high-fibre meal might make sense at lunch or after an easy run, but it may not be what your stomach wants right before a long run, tough workout or race. And if your tried-and-true pre-race breakfast works performance-wise, there’s probably no need to make a drastic shift. Just like with shoes and running clothes, race day should stay familiar, with experimentation saved for training.
Boost with the basics
During regular running weeks, additional fibre can come from tweaking meals you already eat. At breakfast, add berries to your oatmeal, some fruit and seeds to your yogurt. At lunch or supper, toss some beans into your salad or sandwich, and get familiar with lentils, whole grain pasta, and roasted veggies or potatoes with the skin on.
Fruit, popcorn, nuts, trail mix or hummus with crackers or vegetables are all fibre-friendly snacking choices. Make sure to add gradually, especially if your usual diet is lower in fibre or your stomach is sensitive on runs. While the term “fibremaxxing” is over-the-top in intensity, most runners could probably use more fibre in their regular diet, just not right before every run.