Fiber Supplements to Beat
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
by Sophie Lee
Fiber supplements can be tremendously beneficial for IBS sufferers.
Although supplements such as Metamucil and Citrucel are generally
marketed as laxatives, and are very useful for constipation sufferers,
they can also be used to combat diarrhea because they add bulk to
the diet and can make waste food more solid.
These supplements are not really medications; most are simply
fiber products with no added drugs or herbs, and so they can be
taken long term on a daily basis without worrying about side
effects. They’re just the equivalent of adding lots of
fruit and bran to your diet, but without having to eat daily
apples or worry about bloating from the bran.
Do check, though, that the supplement you choose is just made
up of fiber and nothing more, as you will occasionally find one
that has added chemical laxatives or other ingredients that
can upset your stomach.
It is important to make sure you find the fiber supplement
that’s right for you, as IBS sufferers often have very sensitive
stomachs. Some people find that the psyllium fiber in supplements such
as Metamucil can irritate their intestines, so if that happens to
you try one of the methylcellulose products such as Citrucel, or
other types of fiber such as acacia fiber.
Another point to be aware of is that some manufacturers use
artificial sweeteners in their products, and these can sometimes
cause problems for IBS sufferers. There should be a normal,
sweetener-free version to choose instead, and the amount of
sugar in a few spoonfuls should not have a huge impact on any diet you are on.
Whatever type of fiber you choose, you must make sure to build
the dosage up gradually. If you add masses of fiber to your diet
all at once you will probably feel very gassy and bloated. Instead, try
just a small spoon of fiber once a day and build up to
the recommended dose on the label. Most supplements will recommend that you
take the product with lots of water, and to make sure
you are drinking enough water for the rest of the day as well.
It will take a little while before you see the effects of the supplement,
so don’t give up if you don’t feel better after a few days.
Try taking a supplement for one or two weeks to really give it time to work.
These days there are many different ways to take fiber supplements.
You can buy the traditional powder form, which is swallowed with
water or soft food, or you can buy wafers, tablets or capsules, which
can be very handy if you need to travel and don’t want to carry a
whole can of fiber with you.
Most people prefer to take one dose of fiber in the early morning,
perhaps with their breakfast, and then another with dinner or just
before their evening meal. You will need to experiment to find the
right dosage for your symptoms and the best time to take the fiber,
but if you can find a supplement and dose that works for you
it will be well worth the effort, because you will have found a cheap,
drug-free way to help keep your IBS under control.
About the author:
Sophie Lee has suffered from IBS for more than 15 years. She runs
IBS Tales
where you can read hundreds of personal stories of IBS sufferers
and a range of self-help tips.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/
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