You need fiber to maintain digestive health and keep your bowel movements regular. Most plants and whole foods contain a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber absorbs water to form a gel in your digestive tract, and insoluble fiber creates the laxative effects that move your bowels. Both soluble and insoluble supplements are available over the counter.
Poor Diet
Fiber supplements can help your bowels move normally when you don't get enough fiber in your regular diet. While whole foods are the ideal way to consume daily fiber, supplements can help fill deficiencies. Talk to your doctor before taking fiber supplements, especially if you have any digestive disorders or are taking medication. Start with small amounts of the supplement to avoid side effects like gas and bloating.
Health Benefits
Taking a fiber supplement to complete your necessary requirements can help you overcome such conditions as constipation, high cholesterol and hemorrhoids. Soluble fiber supplements can help relieve diarrhea by soaking up water in your digestive tract and forming more solid stools. Fiber supplements such as psyllium can be as effective at treating inflammatory bowel disease as prescription medications.
Disease Prevention
Fiber supplements may help you prevent certain diseases. By improving your triglyceride and cholesterol levels, additional fiber in your diet can help you prevent type 2 diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer. Fiber supplements can also help fight obesity. Supplements made of guar gum, pectin or psyllium leave you with a full feeling, helping you stave off hunger and reduce the amount of food you eat.
Warning
Fiber supplements can interfere with the absorption of other medications you may be taking, such as lithium, digoxin, antidepressants, cholesterol medication and medicine to treat diabetes. Without sufficient water, fiber supplements can swell and cause choking or constipation. You should drink an 8 oz. glass of water with the supplement and drink six to eight glasses of water throughout the day. Common side effects of fiber supplements include bloating and gas.
Member Comments