Diabetes Talking » Diabetes Mellitus » Fiber supplement
Fiber supplement
Question:
Hi Me……lol I am not suggesting you use a fiber supplement, but if you do, try using it in your cereal or something as opposed to mixing in water. If you do a meatloaf, you can use it as a filler as opposed to bread crumbs or cracker crumbs. It will absorb quite a bit of liquid so just play with it until you get it right. On cereal, I only put like a tablespoon….not enough to taste and if you use oatmeal or another hot cereal, it blends in and you don’t even know it’s there. I agree with Julie’s statmenet that you should get it from your diet but on the rare occasions I use it, I buy it from my local health store (pure Psyllium) because it doesn’t have any of the fillers the commercial brands have. My mother on the other hand uses Wal-Marts brand (I think it is Equate) because it is so much cheaper. If you decide to use it, you need to include the nutrition data in your diet. Good Luck Rally My dad takes a fiber supplement (Metamucil) twice a day. I thought it might benefit me, especially when my doctor told me that it makes one feel full (which would help me eat less). I bought a sugar-free bottle, and it was horrendous! I could hardly finish the glass of water! So, I’d like to ask: 1. How beneficial are fiber supplements? 2. What are the drawbacks? 3. Are there any palatable sugar-free versions? Thanks! Me.
Rally "Of all the things in life I’ve lost, I think I miss my mind the most"
Response:
I totally agree. I would also like to point out that with some of these supplements your digestive system may get used to them and eventually be unable to work properly without them.
That’s the case for stimulant laxatives (senna, etc.) but not for fiber supplements (yet another illustration of how meaningless the "natural vs. chemical" pseudo-distinction is). If you’re going to take a fiber supplement/laxative, there’s no point in using the sugar-free version; for Metamucil and its equivalents, all you’re talking about is replacing sugar with maltodexrin (a high-GI carb) for an equal (and too small to worry about unless you’re a radical low-carber) amount of non-fiber carbs (2 or 3 grams). The sugar-free versions all seem to have artificial orange flavor, which I find quite nasty. I use the plain stuff (Wal-Mart brand) and find it seems to help my BG, but YMMV.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – message My dad takes a fiber supplement (Metamucil) twice a day. I thought it might benefit me, especially when my doctor told me that it makes one feel full (which would help me eat less). I bought a sugar-free bottle, and it was horrendous! I could hardly finish the glass of water! So, I’d like to ask: 1. How beneficial are fiber supplements? 2. What are the drawbacks? 3. Are there any palatable sugar-free versions? It’s really best to get your fiber from your food. This isn’t really hard to do if you eat whole grains, dried beans, and other vegetables. Fruit is high in fiber too. The main benefit of fiber is to keep your bowel movements regular. But you must also drink plenty of water or the fiber won’t do you much good. You shouldn’t need supplements unless you suffer from constipation. If so, then talk to your Dr. Can’t tell you about which supplements taste good since I’ve never had to use them.
There are actually two major categories of fiber — insoluble and soluble — and a variety of different types of fibers within these two groups. It is the insoluble type that helps reduce constipation. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, helps in blood sugar control and in reducing LDL. Pectin, one form of soluble fiber found in fruits, guar gum, another soluble fiber found in beans, are especially good for lowering LDL. Note: In the case of most soluble fiber, unlike most of the insoluble types, one does not need to drink plenty of water to make them "work." The main drawbacks to too much fiber (more than 50 grams a day) are: (1) can cause gassiness or bloating if you increase your fiber content too quickly (2) can bind up certain nutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, etc. so that the body can not use them.
Response:
<<The main benefit of fiber is to keep your bowel movements regular. The soluble fiber helps lower blood glucose also: Beneficial Effects of High Dietary Fiber Intake in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine. May 11, 2000.
True. But the article is NOT suggesting a supplment. They are saying to increase the fiber from the foods that you eat. – Type 2 http://www.redshift.com/~juliebove/
Response:
My dad takes a fiber supplement (Metamucil) twice a day. I thought it might benefit me, especially when my doctor told me that it makes one feel full (which would help me eat less). I bought a sugar-free bottle, and it was horrendous! I could hardly finish the glass of water! So, I’d like to ask: 1. How beneficial are fiber supplements? 2. What are the drawbacks? 3. Are there any palatable sugar-free versions? Thanks! Me.
I have to admit, I’ve become rather anal about Fiber myself. I eat a cereal in the morning called Kashi High Fiber. 8 Gms of fiber per serving. Yummmm John
Response:
<<The main benefit of fiber is to keep your bowel movements regular. The soluble fiber helps lower blood glucose also: Beneficial Effects of High Dietary Fiber Intake in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine. May 11, 2000.
Response:
I totally agree. I would also like to point out that with some of these supplements your digestive system may get used to them and eventually be unable to work properly without them. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dad takes a fiber supplement (Metamucil) twice a day. I thought it might benefit me, especially when my doctor told me that it makes one feel full (which would help me eat less). I bought a sugar-free bottle, and it was horrendous! I could hardly finish the glass of water! So, I’d like to ask: 1. How beneficial are fiber supplements? 2. What are the drawbacks? 3. Are there any palatable sugar-free versions? It’s really best to get your fiber from your food. This isn’t really hard to do if you eat whole grains, dried beans, and other vegetables. Fruit is high in fiber too. The main benefit of fiber is to keep your bowel movements regular. But you must also drink plenty of water or the fiber won’t do you much good. You shouldn’t need supplements unless you suffer from constipation. If so, then talk to your Dr. Can’t tell you about which supplements taste good since I’ve never had to use them. — Type 2 http://www.redshift.com/~juliebove/
– Henry M. Type II, Diagnosed 1994, Melbourne, Australia
Response:
My dad takes a fiber supplement (Metamucil) twice a day. I thought it might benefit me, especially when my doctor told me that it makes one feel full (which would help me eat less). I bought a sugar-free bottle, and it was horrendous! I could hardly finish the glass of water! So, I’d like to ask: 1. How beneficial are fiber supplements? 2. What are the drawbacks? 3. Are there any palatable sugar-free versions? Thanks! Me.
Response:
My dad takes a fiber supplement (Metamucil) twice a day. I thought it might benefit me, especially when my doctor told me that it makes one feel full (which would help me eat less). I bought a sugar-free bottle, and it was horrendous! I could hardly finish the glass of water! So, I’d like to ask: 1. How beneficial are fiber supplements? 2. What are the drawbacks? 3. Are there any palatable sugar-free versions?
It’s really best to get your fiber from your food. This isn’t really hard to do if you eat whole grains, dried beans, and other vegetables. Fruit is high in fiber too. The main benefit of fiber is to keep your bowel movements regular. But you must also drink plenty of water or the fiber won’t do you much good. You shouldn’t need supplements unless you suffer from constipation. If so, then talk to your Dr. Can’t tell you about which supplements taste good since I’ve never had to use them. — Type 2 http://www.redshift.com/~juliebove/