In addition to treating constipation, Metamucil may also help lower your cholesterol levels, and may improve your blood sugar control if you have type 2 diabetes. Benefiber, on the other hand, is not approved for these uses. Fiber can also decrease your appetite by making you feel fuller for a longer time.
When you are looking for a fiber supplement for the purpose of lowering your cholesterol, start with psyllium or methylcellulose. Both have that have research supporting their use to slightly reduce LDL.
Helps lower blood cholesterol: Benefiber helps lower blood cholesterol by binding to cholesterol in the gut and preventing its absorption into the bloodstream. The fiber-bound cholesterol is then excreted through stools.
Which fiber supplement is best? Metamucil has been shown to have more health benefits overall versus Benefiber. In addition to being a fiber supplement, Metamucil is a proven bulk-forming laxative. It also has been shown to reduce heart disease by reducing LDL cholesterol.
To get the cholesterol-lowering benefit, take 1 teaspoon of Sugar-Free Metamucil with a full glass of water no more than 15 to 30 minutes before a meal. The psyllium needs to be in your GI tract the same time as your meal. Once it reaches your stomach, it starts dissolving into a gel-like substance.
Metamucil may be a natural alternative to cholesterol-lowering drugs. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise, it may help lower cholesterol on its own or increase the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Talk with your doctor about your options for lowering your cholesterol.
* But did you know it also helps lower cholesterol to promote heart health? The psyllium fiber in Metamucil helps lower cholesterol to promote heart health† by trapping some cholesterol in the digestive system to be removed with waste.
Taking too much Benefiber can cause constipation, gas, and bloating. Benefiber doesn't bulk up stool as much as insoluble fiber supplements. Some people's bodies can become dependent on fiber supplements.
Picco, M.D. There's no evidence that daily use of fiber supplements — such as psyllium (Metamucil, Konsyl, others) or methylcellulose (Citrucel) — is harmful. Fiber has a number of health benefits, including normalizing bowel function and preventing constipation.
Benefiber and Metamucil work in the same way. They absorb water from your intestines to form softer, bulkier stools. These stools flow more easily through your digestive system, which helps you have easier bowel movements. These supplements also increase how often you have bowel movements.
While both are important for your health, soluble fiber is the one that helps to lower blood cholesterol levels. It dissolves in water to form a gel, which moves slowly through the intestines “grabbing” up fat, dietary cholesterol, bile salts, and sugar to be excreted.
Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber is found in such foods as oatmeal, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Add whey protein. Whey protein, which is found in dairy products, may account for many of the health benefits attributed to dairy.
The study pooled findings from 28 trials in people with normal and high cholesterol levels. It found that a daily dose of about 10 grams of psyllium husk lowered harmful LDL cholesterol 13 mg/dL when taken for at least three weeks.
A: Any time of day is appropriate to take Metamucil fiber as long as an adequate intake of fluids (at least 8 ounces of water or liquid per serving) is consumed. We recommend taking Metamucil between one and three times per day at mealtimes as a convenient way to get the benefits of Metamucil.
Foods contain two different types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber, such as pectin and gum inside plant cells, dissolves in water and forms a gel-like paste. During digestion, soluble fiber binds with cholesterol in bile and aids in its excretion, which lowers the amount of cholesterol in the body.
Can this be harmful to kidney? Metamucil is safe for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Common side effects
Side effects of Benefiber may occur when too much is taken and include diarrhoea. Other symptoms such as bloating and cramping may occur. In this case, reduce or cease usage of Benefiber and consult a doctor about the appropriate dose.
Fiber-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Many cereals, such as bran flakes, are good sources of fiber.
Benefiber contains traces of gluten
Benefiber contains wheat, but the manufacturers consider it gluten-free because it contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. However, they say that people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease should not use Benefiber unless directed by a doctor.
“NAD carefully reviewed the evidence and arguments set forth by both parties and determined that the processing of wheat starch to yield the wheat dextrin found in Benefiber represents a significant alteration of the source ingredient that is inconsistent with a consumer's reasonable understanding of a product that ...
Can I safely continue the daily dose of Benefiber? Benefiber is safe for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Conclusions: Treatment with 5.1 g psyllium twice daily produces significant net reductions in serum total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia. Psyllium therapy is an effective adjunct to diet therapy and may provide an alternative to drug therapy for some patients.
The amount needed to lower cholesterol is 10 to 20 grams a day. Psyllium is generally taken three times a day, just before each meal, either in a capsule or as a powder that you mix with water or juice.
The king of dietary fibre is psyllium husk. It's cheap, plentiful and super easy to consume - and it can radically ease the strain on your arteries by reducing the amount of cholesterol that your gut consumes. This is because it's rich in beta glucan, which has been proven to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease.