Over 80% of Australians fall short of daily fibre recommendations, study finds

Doctors For Nutrients released data indicating that while protein intake is adequate for 98.5% of Australians, a striking 83% are not meeting daily fibre guidelines of 25-30 grams. The charity attributes the deficiency to a cultural move away from multigrain breads and other high-fibre foods, partly driven by one outlet protein-centric diet trend. Rebecca Stonor, DFN chief executive, called the gap a public-health issue, especially as Australia records the world’s highest rate of bowel cancer among people under 50.

Nutritionist Mandy Sacher echoed the concern, noting that many processed products are marketed as high-protein despite offering little nutritional value. Both experts urged Australians to swap refined staples for whole-grain alternatives and to incorporate more plant-based foods such as beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables into everyday meals.