Benefiber is a fiber supplement used to promote bowel regularity and to provide the other health benefits of fiber. A high fiber intake can help to prevent certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the National Fiber Council. The most commonly used form of Benefiber is a tasteless powder that can be stirred into beverages, such as juices and coffee or even yogurts. It can also be used to add fiber to baked goods. Newer forms of Benefiber include chewable wafers and caplets for swallowing. The recommended serving for Benefiber powder is two tablespoons three times per day.
Fiber
Each serving of Benefiber powder contains three grams of fiber, all of it soluble fiber, which means it dissolves well in liquids. If you take the recommended three servings of Benefiber each day, it adds 9 grams of fiber to your diet. Since the American Dietetic Association recommends an intake of 25 to 35 grams of total fiber daily, getting 9 grams from Benefiber is an excellent way to get closer to your recommended intake.
Calories
There are 15 calories in each 2 teaspoon serving of Benefiber powder in original flavor. This makes Benefiber a low-calorie product. If you have the recommended three servings of Benefiber powder daily, it would add up to 45 total calories. The benefits of the extra calories? The soluble fiber in Benefiber can make you feel full so that even though you are getting 15 extra calories with each serving, you are less likely to eat as much later, which will save you calories.
Carbohydrates
Benefiber powder has 4 grams of carbohydrates in each serving, which all come from wheat, which is a healthy carbohydrate. The wheat Benefiber uses is referred to as a "complex carbohydrate" and is a better choice than simple carbs (found in products made with refined sugars, and fruits) because it will not cause your blood sugar to spike quickly. It instead is broken down by the body slowly and steadily.
Sugars
There is no sugar in Benefiber powder; it is unsweetened. This makes Benefiber powder in original flavor an excellent choice for diabetics, since it will not raise blood sugar levels. All of the Benefiber products are sugar-free, even the flavored varieties of powder and the chewable wafers.
Protein
There is no protein in Benefiber powder. It is not meant to be a supplement with all the macronutrients needed daily, so no protein was added. Since Benefiber powder original is simply a fiber supplement it has only one ingredient; wheat dextrin, which is a soluble fiber with no protein.
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