It doesn't make for good conversation, but if you're running to the bathroom a little more often than usual, then it's time to do something about your diarrhea.
Lucky for you, if it's not chronic and you don't have any other gastrointestinal conditions, getting your diarrhea under control may only require a slight change to your diet or an added fiber supplement to cut back on your frequent trips to the loo.
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But wait, doesn't fiber treat constipation? Does fiber help with diarrhea, too? The answer is yes to both, which is why the type of fiber and how much you take really matters. (For example, products like Citrucel and FiberCon are bulk-forming laxatives meant to treat constipation, not diarrhea.)
Psyllium husk is the best fiber supplement for loose stools, says registered dietitian Chelsea Macias, RDN. That's because it's a form of soluble fiber, which slows down digestion and helps bulk up your stool, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. (By contrast, insoluble fiber speeds up digestion, which could make diarrhea worse.)
Indeed, psyllium turns into a gel in your intestines, which can help firm up loose or liquid stools, according to a 2021 review of the research in Nutrition Today. Another September 2017 review in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine says psyllium is both safe and effective as a fiber supplement for IBS with diarrhea (although you should talk to your doctor first if you have irritable bowel syndrome).
But that doesn't mean you should load up on fiber, as that might be too tough on your digestive system (which is already dealing with a lot) and could even lead to constipation. Rather, stick to a low dose: about 3 to 5 grams.
With that in mind, here are the best fiber supplements for diarrhea.
The Best Fiber Supplements for Diarrhea
- Best Overall: Yerba Prima Organic Psyllium Whole Husks ($28.70, Amazon)
- Best Tasting: Metamucil Premium Blend With Stevia ($38.49, Amazon)
- Best Capsules: NOW Psyllium Husk Capsules ($10.28, Amazon)
- Best Powder: NOW Foods Psyllium Husk Powder ($9.93, Amazon)
- Best Organic: Organic India Whole Husk Psyllium Fiber ($18.99, Amazon)
- Best for Alternating Diarrhea and Constipation: Citrucel Methylcellulose Fiber Caplets ($14.97, Amazon)
How We Chose
We tapped a registered dietitian for her recommendations on what to look for and chose our top picks based on the following criteria:
- Ingredients
- Quality and safety
- Cost
- Availability
Lear more about how we choose and review products here.
Warning
If your diarrhea is caused by an infection or underlying GI condition, fiber may not be the solution. If you're not sure about what's causing your diarrhea, talk to your doctor to see if adding a fiber supplement is the right approach for you.
1. Yerba Prima Organic Psyllium Whole Husks
Pros
- Third-party tested
- USDA organic
Cons
- May need to start with a half dose
Yerba Prima gets the best overall nod among stool-hardening supplements because it checks three important boxes: type of fiber, cost and quality. No fanciness or frills means you get the best bang for your buck.
One serving provides 4.5 grams of fiber (3.5 grams of soluble fiber), so consider starting with a half dose. Then keep this on hand for any fiber supplementation after your symptoms resolve.
Consumer Lab, a third-party testing lab that checks for potency and purity of dietary supplements, gives this supplement a thumbs up for quality. It's also certified USDA organic, which ensures you aren't getting any additives you don't want.
Pros
- Easy to mix
- Orange flavor
Cons
- Stevia may cause upset stomach for some people
Metamucil has been a long-time favorite psyllium supplement. This comes in a powdered form and is easy to mix into your favorite drinks or yogurt.
Its orange flavor is more pleasing to the palate than many other supplements, but that taste comes at a cost. The stevia in this product may cause nausea or stomach upset in some people, and others may not like the aftertaste. Metamucil also makes a fiber supplement with sugar ($13.59, Amazon.com), but keep in mind that it delivers 8 grams of added sugar per serving (about a third of the recommended daily amount, per the American Heart Association).
Metamucil says the serving size is 1 to 2 teaspoons for its stevia-sweetened product, but it's recommended you start out with 1 teaspoon (3 grams of fiber) if you've never taken fiber before.
Metamucil also makes orange-flavored fiber gummies, but these contain a soluble fiber called inulin rather than psyllium, so they're not a good choice when you have diarrhea.
3. NOW Psyllium Husk Capsules
Pros
- Adheres to good manufacturing practices
- Good amount of psyllium fiber
Cons
- Must take with 8 ounces of water
These fiber pills for diarrhea contain 3.3 grams of psyllium fiber per serving, which is a good amount when you're treating diarrhea that won't go away. It's recommended you take the capsules with a full 8 ounces of water.
NOW Foods adheres to current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), which is a quality control program set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NOW psyllium husk capsules passed Consumer Lab's test for quality and heavy metals, making this a safe choice.
The suggested usage is to take three capsules, three times a day, but stick with once a day until your diarrhea symptoms have resolved.
4. NOW Foods Psyllium Husk Powder
Pros
- Easy to mix
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Best to start out with a low dose because it has 7 grams of fiber per tablespoon
NOW Foods gets another nod for a quality psyllium powder supplement. This powder is finely ground, making it ideal to mix into your drinks or bake into your favorite dishes.
One serving has a large amount of fiber, 7 grams per tablespoon, so it's best to start out with a half tablespoon or even a teaspoon when you start taking this fiber.
It's an inexpensive choice and one you can continue to use long after your diarrhea symptoms are gone. It also has thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon.
5. Organic India Whole Husk Psyllium Fiber
Pros
- Certified organic
- No additives, added sugar or artificial flavors
Cons
- Unflavored, which may make it difficult to take for some people
While you may not have heard of Organic India, they make a whole husk psyllium fiber that has been tested and approved for quality and safety by Consumer Lab.
One serving provides 4 grams of soluble fiber, which is right in the sweet spot, but you could still take a half tablespoon starting out to ensure your body reacts well.
It is certified organic, which is another measure of strict quality standards. It also doesn't have any additives, added sugar or artificial sugars — just psyllium.
6. Citrucel Methylcellulose Fiber Caplets
Pros
- Best if you experience diarrhea and constipation
- Gentle dietary fiber
- Easy to swallow
Cons
- May not be enough fiber for some people
If you're someone who lives with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you may have alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. If this is the case, a gentle and low-dose fiber capsule like this one from Citrucel could be helpful.
The orange-flavored, easy-to-swallow capsule has about 500 milligrams of methylcellulose, a non-allergenic fiber. This is just enough to help keep you regular without causing excess gas or diarrhea.
What to Look for in a Fiber Supplement for Diarrhea
To recap what we discussed above, a fiber supplement to treat diarrhea should check the following boxes:
1. Contains Psyllium Fiber
This type of fiber has been shown to help slow digestion and firm up loose stools.
2. Low Dose of Fiber
You don't want to overdo it on fiber when you have diarrhea, so stick to a dose between 3 and 5 grams.
3. Third-Party Testing
A supplement that has been given the stamp of approval by a third-party tester such as Consumer Lab is more likely to contain the ingredients it claims, in the amount it claims and without any added fillers or harmful substances.
Tip
If you take medications, take your fiber supplement at a different time to ensure adequate absorption of your medication. This is recommended for most supplements.
When to See a Doctor
If your diarrhea is not getting better or seems to get worse, take a break from your fiber supplement and call your doctor. Not everyone's body reacts the same way to fiber, and you may need to take a different approach.
These fiber supplements are not recommended for children. If your child has diarrhea, call their pediatrician, who can advise you on how best to treat it.
- Linus Pauling Institute: "Fiber"
- Nutrition Today: "Psyllium The Gel-Forming Nonfermented Isolated Fiber That Delivers Multiple Fiber-Related Health Benefits"
- American Heart Association: "How much sugar is too much?"
- International Journal of Molecular Medicine: "Dietary fiber in irritable bowel syndrome (Review)"
Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.