Fiber Supplements
Definition: Fiber supplements are products comprised of one or a combination of fiber sources that can be combined with certain herbs and other supplements in order to provide more dietary fiber and colon health. Today, few of us eat the recommended 25 to 45 grams of fiber per day and could benefit from the many health advantages of increased dietary fiber. A number of supplements are available and can be added to liquid. They are also available in bar form or as dry supplements.
Applications: Cardiovascular health, high cholesterol, obesity, cancer preventative, bowel disorders, constipation, varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
Recommendations: Fiber supplements commonly include herbs such as aloe vera, cascara sagrada, rhubarb, slippery elm or acacia which help to tonify and heal the mucous membranes of the colon. The primary fiber source of most products is psyllium although there are other sources. These include psyllium, which has a colorless transparent mucilage that forms around its insoluble seed; bran, with its low solubility and good water-holding properties; gums, which form a homogenous adhesive gelatinous mass in the lower intestine to expedite waste transit; methyl cellulose, whose slow solubility creates a viscous solution for expulsion; and ispaghula husk, which swells rapidly to form a mucilage.