There’s a rash of enthusiasm every January to remedy low-fibre diets. Suddenly everyone is adding raw veg or vats of beans to their breakfast, lunch and dinner plates, and our plumbing freaks out. We want to treat fibre like going to the gym. However, I wouldn’t recommend benching 60kg on your first trip to the gym, your body will be screaming. We’ve got to build up resistance and strength first. Same goes for our gut bacteria – give them a chance to grow and arm themselves. Then the “fibre makes me gassy” fable won’t mangle your New Year rezzies.