Fibre

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has raised the recommended daily servings of wholegrains from one to three

Wholegrains are a good source of fibre, which helps to relieve constipation and lower LDL - or "bad" - cholesterol, says Ms Vig.

Other benefits of fibre include its ability to control diabetes - by reducing the post-meal rise in blood sugar - and weight gain as it helps you to feel full longer.

Besides wholegrains, fibre is found mainly in fruits, vegetables and legumes.

Unfortunately, 80 per cent of Singaporeans are not meeting their recommended daily fibre needs, which HPB says is 26g for men and 20g for women.

To meet these needs, Ms Vig suggests adopting a two-pronged approach of increasing fibre intake through supplements and food.