psyllium fiber

Product Review: Metamucil Fiber Powder

Monday, July 20, 2015

     Hi dearies! It's review time once again. I miss doing product reviews and to start here's my honest to goodness review of Metamucil Fiber Powder. But before that, let me give you a brief introduction on Metamucil. This post is loaded with information from Metamucil's website and from what I've learned during the launch. Metamucil was launched last June 24 at M Cafe. It was an intimate lunch with lifestyle and health bloggers together with Metamucil's brand ambassador Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.

     During the launch, I've learned that there are different kinds of fiber. Aside from getting it from the food that we eat, there are also other sources of fiber in order for us to meet the daily requirement fiber intake. If you're  along time reader of this blog, I presume you've seen a post that I'm taking psyllium fiber for more than five years now. To know more about Metamucil and my thoughts about this product scroll down dearies!
Product Review: Metamucil Fiber Powder
    To cut the long story short, the Philippine Food and Nutrition Research Institute, recommends Filipino adults to consume 20 to 25 grams of dietary fiber daily. 1 If you find it difficult to include fiber-rich food in your daily diet, you can consider taking dietary fiber supplements like Metamucil®, the World’s #1 Selling Fiber Supplement 2 made with 100% natural psyllium fiber, to help you meet your fiber goals. 

     Psyllium is a great source of fiber from the husk of the seeds of the plant PlantagoOvata, providing four health benefits: helps promote digestive health, helps lower cholesterol to promote heart health*, helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels as part of a healthy diet, and helps you feel less hungry between meals. 3,4. It is a viscous soluble fiber, which forms a gel to trap waste, bile acid, and sugars. The gel passes through the gut, taking the waste and some cholesterol, and slowly releasing sugars to be absorbed by the body.4,6
Product Review: Metamucil Fiber Powder
Metamucil Daily Fibre Supplement in Orange Smooth Flavor
Psyllium fiber provides four health benefits. It does the following:

  • Helps promote digestive health – Psyllium aids as a stool softener for constipation and a stool normalizer for diarrhea1 
  • Helps lower cholesterol to promote heart health – Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of soluble fiber per day from Psyllium husk may reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol1 
  • Helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels as part of a healthy diet1 
  • Helps you feel less hungry between meals – When Psyllium fiber thickens and forms into a gel inside the stomach, this action slows down digestion and absorption, contributing a sensation of fullness and allowing you to feel fuller between meals4

1 A. Moreyra. “Expert Views: The Health Benefits of Dietary Fibre” in GI Health & Wellness. Issue 4. Febuary 2011. 
2 Food and Nutrition Research Institute. FNRI Digest: Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes for Filipinos. Retrieved from: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1122 .Assessed May 18, 2015. 
3 Harvard T.H. Chan of Public Health Nutrition Source. The Nutrition Source - Fiber. 
Retrieved from: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/fiber/. 
4 McRorie, J. W. (2015) Evidence-Based Approach to Fiber Supplements and Clinically Meaningful Health Benefits, Part I. Nutrition Today, Vol 50 (2). 
5 National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus – Soluble vs Insoluble Fiber. Retrieved from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002136.htm
6 United States Department of Agriculture. Dietary, Functional and Total Fiber. Retrieved from: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/DRI/DRI_Energy/339-421.pdf
Product Review: Metamucil Fiber Powder
Metamucil Daily Fibre Supplement in Orange Smooth Flavor nutrition facts
     Here are important things (information/direction) on how to take Metamucil. Kindly refer to this guide that was taken from metawellness.com

New Users: Start with 1 serving per day; gradually increase to desired daily intake. You may initially experience changes in bowel habits or minor bloating, as your body adjusts to increased fiber intake.

Bulk-forming fibers like psyllium husk may affect how well medicines work. Take this product at least 2 hours before or after medicines.

Uses
For feeling less hungry between meals*
Adults 12 yrs. and over: Two rounded teaspoons in 8 or more oz. of liquid with meals, up to 3 times daily.

For lowering cholesterol to promote heart health† 
Adults 12 yrs. and over: One rounded teaspoon in 8 oz. of liquid, 3 times daily.

For maintaining healthy blood sugar levels as part of your diet* 
Adults 12 yrs. and over: One rounded teaspoon in 8 oz. of liquid, 3 times daily.
Consult your doctor before use if you are currently using medication to control your blood sugar levels.

For promoting and maintaining digestive health*
Adults 12 yrs. and over: One rounded teaspoon in 8 oz. of liquid up to 3 times daily for fiber supplementation. For occasional constipation and to help promote and maintain regularity. For children under 12, consult a doctor.

Notice: Mix this product with at least 8 oz. (a full glass) of liquid. Taking without enough liquid may cause choking. Do not take if you have difficulty swallowing.

Allergy alert: This product may cause allergic reaction in people sensitive to inhaled or ingested psyllium. Contact your doctor BEFORE USING this dietary supplement if you have recently experienced a sudden change in bowel habits persisting for 2 weeks, abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. STOP USING this dietary supplement and ask a doctor if constipation lasts more than 7 days or rectal bleeding occurs. These may be signs of a serious condition.
Product Review: Metamucil Fiber Powder
Metamucil Daily Fibre Supplement in Orange Smooth Flavor
     I've been taking Metamucil everyday. Once or twice a day 30 minutes before breakfast and/or 30 minutes before dinner plus lots and lots of water. I've been drinking this fiber powder for two weeks already. The photo below shows how I drink Metamucil. I just have to make approximations on how many grams I'm going to stir inside my drinking glass. Even though the instruction is clear (1 ½ teaspoons), I think there are times that I go more than or less than that value. 

    A side note: I've been drinking psyllium fiber since 2009 and Metamucil is not readily available here in our country that time. I had a salpingectomy operation last 2012. When I was in the operating room, I heard my doctors saying that my intestines are clean. It's a pre-operation order not to eat and drink 10-12 hours before the operation. Drinking fiber may have helped me with the 'clean intestines'? I'm not sure with my observation so feel free to comment if you're a medical expert. Thank you!
Product Review: Metamucil Fiber Powder
Metamucil Daily Fibre Supplement in Orange Smooth Flavor
size: 283 grams net powder / 48 doses

price: 760 php (Around $16.70+)

place bought: Free
Available in Mercury Drug, Watsons, and leading drugstores nationwide.

instructions for use: To enjoy Metamucil, simply add 5.8 grams of Metamucil (approximately 1 ½ teaspoons) to at least 250 ml of liquid. Stir briskly and drink promptly. Drink plenty of water. 

ingredients: Psyllium Husk powder, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Sunset Yellow FCF CI 15985, Maltodextrin, Artificial and Natural Orange Flavor.
Product Review: Metamucil Fiber Powder
Metamucil Daily Fibre Supplement in Orange Smooth Flavor
What I like:

  • This psyllium fiber powder smells like real orange juice. Yum!
  • Metamucil Fiber Powder is easy to mix and prepare.
  • It's easy to drink and swallow because it is already in powder form.
  • No bloating or other stomach irritations.
  • After drinking a glass of Metamucil, my stomach feels full so there's a tendency that  I eat less/small portions and crave less sweets.
  • As explained above, Metamucil is a viscous soluble fiber that forms a gel to provide health benefits in controlling cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
  • It's sugar and gluten free.
  • There's a batch, manufacturing and expiry date printed on the package.
  • Easily available.

What I don't like:

  • The price can be a bit steep for budget conscious individuals.
  • Doesn't come with a scoop. I find it hard to measure the exact amount of Metamucil powder (5.8 grams) in a 250 ml of water. 
  • It's only available in one size jar.

Will I repurchase: It's in the realm of possibility. A mainstay in my diet because I drink it everyday to maintain my weight and to eat happy and lessen the guilt whenever I crave for sweets, salty, and fatty food.

Recommendation: 
     I give this a 4.25/5 rating. Finally, a psyllium fiber that is in powder form and easy to drink and swallow. Those who can't take or drink the psyllium fiber in husk form will benefit a lot from Metamucil. It can also be mixed with your favorite drinks like yogurt and milk to make an orange smooth shake. As a precaution, consult a medical practitioner first before taking any form of supplement. Read what I've posted above and always follow the instructions especially if you're taking medication.

     If you prefer on mixing it with water, I suggest you drink it birskly so that it will not form into a gel-like mixture in less than 1 minute. Drink lots of water if your taking MetamucilHave you tried taking fiber supplements? What's your method of taking it? Kindly share your experience on the comment section below. Thank you for dropping by!


Good Times!~

DISCLAIMER: This review is not paid or sponsored. I got this product from the Metamucil Philippines Launch. The opinion expressed here are my honest opinion about the product. What works for me may not work for you or vice versa.

Product Review: MEGAFIBER Psyllium Fiber Supplement

Monday, February 09, 2015

     Finally, I'll be sharing my thoughts on Megafiber Psyllium fiber supplement. If you're a long time reader of this blog, prolly you know that I had bouts of constipation after giving birth. Yes, constipation is a part of pregnancy, it is common because of the increase progesterone in the body and it relaxes the muscle including the digestive track. The battle with constipation continues after giving birth. I've tried different kinds of laxative and medicine to help ease constipation but only a few have worked.

     I also veered away from those medicines because laxatives should not be taken for a long period of time because of the side-effects so I have to look for a natural supplement in order to help me pass out the stool in my body naturally. No bloating, painful tummy or cramps and flatulence. I've tried 2 brands of psyllium fiber before and I'm quiet satisfied with the results BUT I became most satisfied with MEGAFIBER. Wanna know why? Click CONTINUE READING to know more about this food supplement and my honest to goodness thoughts about the product.
Product Review: MEGAFIBER Psyllium Fiber Supplement
image from megafiber.com.ph

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