What in the World

Fibremaxxing: Why are we now obsessed with cabbage?

Feb 26, 2026
Zara Hiridjee, a UK registered nutritionist who explains fiber needs and types. Basma El-Atti, a Nairobi-based BBC reporter who tracks cultural trends. They explore why cabbage has gone viral with fibremaxxing. They discuss how social media and Gen Z budgets shaped the craze. Practical fiber guidance and the risks of too much fiber are also covered.
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INSIGHT

Cabbage Became Aesthetic Fuel For Fiber Maxing

  • Cabbage went viral as part of a broader Gen Z wellness and aesthetic trend called fiber maxing.
  • Vogue and Pinterest boosted the aesthetic, while TikTok showed cheap, filling cabbage recipes like soups and dumplings that fit tight budgets.
ANECDOTE

Vogue Photoshoot Sparked My Cabbage-Filled Feed

  • Basma noticed her feed filled with cabbage recipes and a Vogue photoshoot in a cabbage field billed '2026 the year of cabbage'.
  • Pinterest and runway fashion even showed cabbage-inspired bags and plates, broadening the aesthetic beyond food.
INSIGHT

Fiber Maxing Is Filling A Recognised Fiber Gap

  • Fiber maxing is simply the social-media-driven push to eat more fiber to close the 'fiber gap' among young people.
  • Cabbage is favoured because it's cheap, large, filling and ties into popular Asian-inspired dishes like kimchi.
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