Fiber supplement suggestions?

I am having a hard time getting enough fiber into my diet. It's actually the next thing on my "diet modifications" wish list (right after get enough water and cut back portion size - I work on one modification at a time and add a new one when I've got a good grip on the old ones). Do any of you use the fiber products (benefiber, metamucil, etc.) on the market? What would you recommend?

Mon. Apr 9, 11:30am

I use Fiber Choice Weight Management chewable tablets. I started taking only half the does, 1 tablet. they suggest 2 tablets. However after 2 days of taking a whole tablet I had a bit of a 'too much fiber experience' so I cut back to half a tablet a day and have been ok. It may not be the recommended dose but its more fiber than I was getting.

Monday, April 9, 2007, 11:56 AM

i have tried metamucil, but i had severe cramoing and bloating and explosive results, if you know what i mean. i stopped using it after a couple weeks, when i realized my body was not adjusting to it as i had hoped. i am sure i was losing nutrients more than i was getting any real benefits from the fiber. now i eat steel cut oatmeal at least 2 times a week in the morning.

Monday, April 9, 2007, 12:00 PM

I have a glass of metamucil at night a couple of times a week on days when I know I didn't get enough fiber in. The key is to make sure you do mix the 1 tsp serving w/ at LEAST 8 oz of water, otherwise cramping, bloating, constipation will happen. If you follow the directions you are less likely to have problems with it (but not the case for everyone for sure!).

I have tried Benefiber (the clear one that you can mix with anything) and had no problems with it but to be honest I like the taste of metamucil, and Metamucil contains the type of soluble fiber that keeps cholesterol levels healthy and is recommended for heart health (the same kind in oatmeal) so I figure I may be getting more benefits out of it than just regularity!

Monday, April 9, 2007, 2:03 PM

I really like Wasa crackers. They're about 30 calories each & a cracker is about 2 1/2" x 4". You get 2-3g fiber per cracker in a low-cal, fairly tasty treat. I usually put a dab of peanut butter or jelly or lf cream cheese on mine and eat it with a big glass of water.

Monday, April 9, 2007, 2:15 PM

I mix psyllium husks in water or fruit juice (if I have the calories). It doesn't taste good or bad and the consistency is weirdly gel-like, but it's not that hard to get used to. A rounded teaspoon shaken in 8oz water gives you about 5g fiber. If I'm having a low-fiber meal, I'll pound one of these before or after. Be sure to follow with another pint of water unless you want to send a cement block through your intestines. I buy this stuff in a healthfood/vitamin store, and a big jar is $8 and 40-50 servings. Psyllium husks were recently mentioned by that guy who wrote "You on a Diet" when he was promoting his book on various talk shows, so I'm not coming from way out in left field with this.

Monday, April 9, 2007, 3:35 PM

I mix 2 teaspoons of psyllium husks in my oatmeal in the morning. You really can't taste it at all mixed in oatmeal, oatbran, or Quinoa.

Also, ground up flax seeds (a tablespoon) added to your cereal in the morning are an excellent source of fiber and help to keep you moving along ;-)

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 1:25 AM

I have to have a lot of fiber in my diet at least 50 g. I do 2 chewable fiber tablets which is 4 g and I also use at least 2 tbs of flax seed meal a day in cereal, smoothie or something else. Two tbs adds another 4 g to my diet,

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 3:47 AM

I add a quarter of a cup of unprocessed wheat bran to my salad. It gives 7 g of fiber, 30 cal, and seems to give the salad a lot more staying power. I find wheat bran doesn't cause me cramps like psyllium husks do. The ground flax seed mixtures in applesauce with a glass of water is also non-gas producing for me and is another 7 g of fiber.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 8:22 AM

I highly recommened the Gnu Flavor & Fiber bars. They have 12 grams of Fiber w/ only 130 Cal. I also think they are one of the tastiest brands out there!! I also have recently sprinkled Fiber one on my salads (gives you the feel of crunchy won tons/ crutons etc.) Sounds kind of weird but give it a try!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 8:40 AM

I use the benefiber powder (tried the tablets & they were terrible-really chalky & had a bad aftertaste), and mix it in my juice, applesauce, pudding, oatmeal, whatever is a good consistency for it. I've actually heard the opposite that an above poster mentioned: that benefiber is soluble fiber and metamucil is unsoluble (insoluble?) fiber. I have IBS and make sure to take soluble fiber bc the other kind wreaks havoc with my intestines! Just make sure to drink lots of water & liquids no matter what kind you use!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 9:16 AM

Both Benefiber and Metamucil are soluble fibers (see nutrition info on both their websites) but Metamucil is made from psyllium husks (been touted for many health benefits) and Benefiber is made from wheat dextrin (wheat dextrin is not bad for you but does not have the type of benefits of psyllium).

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 1:30 PM

i am guessing that if one is allergic to wheat, the benefiber is not a good choice? it seems so obvious, but maybe not?

Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 1:38 PM

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