I have a packet of my flatmate's muesli in front of me (temptation!).

It seems to be composed of mostly rolled oats witha few cornflakes and bits of dried fruit. I can't read all the ingredients as my Russian is not up to it, but it is 70 per cent carbs.

Now, my thinking is this: I know our bodies can digest starch but not cellulose. If those rolled oats are raw therefore, the starch grains should be covered in cellulose and so go in one end and out t'other - thus making it an excellent source of fibre into the bargain.

It would be an easy matter to pick out most of the cornflakes and dried fruit - there isn't much dried fruit in Russian meusli. It's mostly oats!

- I've just tasted it (and spat it out). It's not sweet so no added sugar. Also, it doesn't become sweet in the presence of saliva as starches usually do.

Any thoughts anyone?

regards,

Robert