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Background
For more information on the importance of soluble fiber in the dietary approach to IBS, see these earlier posts:
Fiber Glossary, and
Fiber 101a, as well as
Fiber 101b.
Today’s web adventure:
Today, as I placed a regular supplement order with Vitacost.com, I somehow saw a long list of products. From idle curiosity, I scrolled down the page. I noticed that they listed guar gum, the main ingredient in the old form of Benefiber ™. Of course I clicked on the listing, and got two listings, for Source Naturals ™ versions of the same product.
Because I knew Amazon sells Source Naturals, and VitaCost had a shipment delay on one size of the Guar Gum product, I checked price and shipment information on Amazon.com, using “guar gum” for the search term. Yes, they have the same product, but you have to buy three at a time. Yes, it’s shipped directly from Amazon.com, so (especially if you are an Amazon Prime member) the ship time is very fast and accurate. Just to see what else there is, I checked their whole listing for guar gum. You can do the same — just avoid Bob’s Red Mill ™ or Barry Farm guar gum, which are intended for baking, and very hard to use as a supplement.
Believe me, I’ve tried.
At the bottom of the Amazon list of guar gum products, they had an allied ad from HerbalRemedies.com.
Poking around that web site, I found the following information on acacia fiber, the basis for Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber ™.
Acacia General Information
Ancient Hebrews considered Acacia to be the Shittah tree of the Bible which supplied the sacred wood. The Ark of the Covenant and the sacred Tabernacle were made from Acacia wood. As a spiritual icon it is also one of the most powerful “symbols” in Freemasonry representing the eternal soul and purity of the soul. The ancient Egyptians used the gum of the tree on loose teeth because its thick mucilaginous (thick and sticky) properties supported the tooth while the astringent qualities tightened up the gum tissue surrounding the loose tooth. The Egyptians also used the material as a glue and as a pain reliever base. The gum of the Acacia tree was applied to open wounds as an antiseptic. The Aztecs used it as a food and dye, and ate the seedpods as an aphrodisiac.
Where The Acacia Tree is Found Today
The acacia tree (Acacia Senegal) is a thorny, scraggly tree that grows to heights of about 15 feeet. It grows most prolifically in regions of Africa, in particlular in the Republic of Sudan. During times of drought, the bark of the tree splits, exuding a sap that dries in small droplets or “tears”. In the past, these hardened sap tears served as the major source of acacia gum, but today commercial acacia gum is derived by tapping trees periodically and collecting the resin semi-mechanically. At least three grades of acacia gum are available commercially and their quality is distinguished by the coloor and character in the collected tears. There is considerable variation in the gum quality depending on whether it is obtained by natural flow secondary to extreme drought, obtained by tapping of induced by the boring of beetles at sites of branch injury. Gums derived from Combretum are readily available at low prices in East and West Africa and are often offered for sale as “gum arabic”.
Acacia Uses & Scientific Evidence For
Today Gum Arabic is used to provide a soothing coating over inflammations in the respiratory, alimentary, and urinary tracts. It is also helpful for coughs, sore throat, and catarrh, eyewash, diarrhea, and dysentery. Acacia is sometimes used for typhoid fever as well. Acacia is highly soluble, with low viscosity and a high soluble dietary fiber content, and therefore, used in meal replacement products, nutritional beverages, and weight-loss products. Acacia gum has been used in food as a stabilizer and in pharmaceuticals as a demulcent. It is used topically for healing wounds and has been shown to inhibit the growth of periodontal bacteria and the early deposition of plaque.
Post Summary
That’s comprehensive information on acacia fiber, when I started out looking for guar gum supplements — especially to replace Benefiber ™, which is now made with wheat dextrin. So in the next post, I’ll deal more specifically with guar gum as a soluble fiber, not just where to get the supplement.
August 22nd, 2008
Posted by
tummyblogger |
fiber, VitaCost, FiberSure (tm), Heather's Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber (tm), Benefiber (tm), Prebiotics, IBS Diet |
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In reviewing the questions that people ask search engines, and then get direct to this site, I am seeing a lot of “is it ok to take xyz every day.” The answers are sprinkled through this site, so I wonder whether people find what they are looking for.
In this post I review some of the queries and try out some answers. Feel free to comment by clicking on the “no comment” link, which opens the comment box:
Is it okay to take laxatives every day?
- a. By laxative do you mean anything in the laxative aisle of the drugstore? Then read beyond this question for information on Soluble Fiber Supplements, also called “prebiotics.”
- b. Generally it is not good practice to do this. Over a long space of time you become dependent on laxatives, and you need a larger and larger dose to get the same effect. A diet that avoids IBS triggers, and the simultaneous building up of your intake of soluble fiber supplements (SFS) to the recommended levels will relieve constipation over time. You do not need to have a bowel movement every day; fewer than three per week is a cause for concern. “Cause for concern” is code for “talk to your doctor about this.”
Is Benefiber okay? Review of Benefiber?
- When the major ingredient of Benefiber was guar gum, it was okay. At that point Benefiber was a Soluble Fiber Supplement (SFS), which is the kind that helps IBS. Now it is not an SFS, because the makers (Novartis, makers of Zelnorm) changed the main ingredient to maltodextrin.
What about Fibersure? Review? Take it every day?
- Fibersure is an SFS, made from chicory root fiber, also called “inulin.” Anything similar that is all inulin–for example, a Walmart store brand, or a Canadian, Indian, Australian, or British product–would act similarly. This is the kind of product in the “laxatives” aisle that you should take every day. In fact, you should take several doses throughout the day to build up to 20 to 30 grams of soluble fiber every day.
- I don’t receive the queries about Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber ™, which is the other brand name Soluble Fiber Supplement (SFS). Like FiberSure, it should be taken every day. Like FiberSure, unlike senokot and similar laxatives, you should gradually build up to a base level of 20 to 30 grams of SFS per day.
Take Metamucil ™ every day?
- There are two answers here. First, unless you have a free year’s supply of Metamucil ™ without any additives, don’t take Metamucil ™ for IBS. It has several ways of irritating a sensitive tummy. Second, if you have an otherwise nice doctor who insists that you take a psyllium fiber supplement (PFS), try bargaining with her to take Original Konsyl ™, which is a PFS with absolutely no sugar, sugar substitute, orange coloring, orange flavoring, etc–no additives at all.
- So the short answer? Don’t take Metamucil ™ every day; don’t take Metamucil ™ at all! If you take Original Konsyl ™ every day, preferably add it to a base of 20 to 30 grams of SFS.
Look for a further post on “every day IBS care.”
September 30th, 2007
Posted by
tummyblogger |
fiber, general, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS-D, FiberSure (tm), Heather's Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber (tm), Benefiber (tm), Prebiotics |
4 comments
The following material is designed specifically for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It may be useful to people who have occasional constipation or diarrhea or non-specific tummy pain. As usual, this is not medical advice. It will be helpful to read the Fiber in IBS Glossary, posted two days ago, and you might want to reread the post titled Fiber for IBS 101a.
There are three points in this follow-up post. I will be talking about how the role of fiber in establishing a real comfort level with your tummy. The three points, as questions, are:
- What does fiber do in your body?
- What kind of fiber do you need to have that beneficial effect?
- How much of the right kind of fiber do you need each day?
What Does Fiber Do in Your Body?
As your background reading indicates, there are two kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble.
First, insoluble fiber (IF) is bulk, or roughage. It increases the size of the stool as the stool is forming and passing through the large intestine (=large bowel). This is the kind of fiber that many doctors are suggesting you take when they say eat more fruits and vegetables, and take Metamucil ™ or another psyllium laxative/fiber. IF is also the kind of fiber that many many people with IBS have tried and given up on, because it makes things worse.
Second, Soluble Fiber (SF). Soluble fiber in supplement form (SFS) dissolves completely in water, and when it reaches your large intestine it blends with the contents of your digestive system as it comes from the small intestine, and *there* it forms a gel. I will tell you that the following comparison may gross you out. Still, please read on.
The gel that’s formed in your large bowel has somewhat the consistency of a tube of toothpaste, and your large bowel squeezes it along until the gel-like stool is eliminated. This is the result of taking a Soluble Fiber Supplement (SFS).
The effect of taking adequate amounts of SFS is very easy passage of formed stools, not too loose and not too hard, dry, or painful. The gel-forming effect of SFS works with the loose and watery stools of diarrhea (IBS-D) as well as with those of IBS-C.
What Kind of Fiber Do You Need to Have that Beneficial Effect?
In order to have the help of fiber to change the nature of the stools you pass, you need adequate amounts of a soluble fiber supplement (SFS) for your IBS-D or IBS-C. Right now in the U.S. the available supplements are FiberSure ™ and Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber ™, and perhaps some store brands.
- FiberSure is pure powderedinulin, made from chicory root. It is also FDA approved for use in treating constipation.
- Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber is pure powdered acacia. It may be classed by the FDA as a “medical food.”
- Store brands that are still in place that mimic the old form of Benefiber, ™ and have guar gum as their active ingredient. (I have tried to check out a report that Wal-Mart has such a store brand SFS, with no success.)
How much of the right kind of fiber do you need each day?
How much SFS do you need, and how do you get there? How do you change over from Metamucil ™ or FiberCon ™ or Konsyl ™? Do you also need Metamucil ™?
To my way of thinking, you need to gradually add an SFS to your daily routine, while also gradually reducing the amount of any IFS you have been taking. Carrots and apples and other vegetables and fruits that are sources of SF should be switched to steamed or blended forms, with no sugar added.
Basically, you are going for a daily intake of 30 to 45 grams of soluble fiber. That varies from individual to indivual according to size, weight, and age. To find the right amount, you gradually increase your SFS intake until your stools are the kind of softened and formed “gel” that I described above.
If you reach 40 or 45 grams of SF per day, without getting these results, please consult your doctor.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that in taking an SFS you take it every day, and build up until the amount is adequate for a comfortable, formed stool.
August 23rd, 2007
Posted by
tummyblogger |
fiber, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS-C, IBS-D, FiberSure (tm), Heather's Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber (tm), Benefiber (tm), Digesting Information |
2 comments
Benefiber in the Past
In reviewing the statistics for this growing blog, I notice that one of the most frequently used keywords is Benefiber. I imagine that people are checking out whether Benefiber is a good choice for a soluble fiber. Indeed, there used to be three soluble fibers on the market that I could recommend; Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber ™, FiberSure ™, and Benefiber ™. I have used Benefiber myself, and my doctor recommended it at one time.
BUT
At the time I could make these positive statements, Benefiber ™ consisted entirely of processed Guar Gum, one of the group of PREbiotics that shared the benefits of soluble fiber. I searched for ingredients of Benefiber on the web and every listing said the main ingredient was Guar Gum. I know that the Benefiber I have seen on the shelf at my local–across the street, easy to do research–CVS has maltodextrin as its main ingredient. Have I gone crazy? No. I checked with Amazon.com for an up-to-date listing. The ingredients are “Wheat Dextrin. Gluten Free (Less than 10 ppm Gluten).” Hmm. So maybe it’s okay. But is it the product for which Novartis — who brought us Zelnorm ™ — got FDA approval. That FDA approval figured large in my doctor’s recommendation for Benefiber.
Novartis
Novartis simply has not updated any of its own or others’ listings of ingredients for Benefiber. I want to be sarcastic here, but won’t. To read more about the switch, see this review at IBS Tales, http://www.irritable-bowel-syndrome.ws/benefiber.htm. .
This Blog Withdraws Approval
Based on the unannounced switch and the negative customer review on IBS Tales, I am withdrawing approval for Benefiber of the Wheat Dextrin kind. As much as possible, when I can, I’ll go back and change earlier posts to reflect the change in the product.
Feedback
What is your feeling about Benefiber? Do you like and use the new, wheat-dextrin product? Did you notice the change?
August 10th, 2007
Posted by
tummyblogger |
fiber, Amazon, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Benefiber (tm), Prebiotics |
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In this post I will try to outline the basics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) therapy. The harsh truth is that there is no magic pill or potion. IBS is a condition rather than an illness. I know, when you are in the middle of the current round of bodily “wrongness” that is IBS, you feel sick, often very sick.
The way to deal with this truth about IBS, that there is no magic pill or potion to heal IBS once and for all, is through life-style changes. Yes, that’s the “blame the victim” kind of answer that is so irritating, to me as well as to you. And what is worse, the life-style changes have to be so thorough, to do a good job at IBS control.
What I am talking about is cutting out all of the IBS triggers on the Page in the index across the top of this page. You no longer eat
July 18th, 2007
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tummyblogger |
Teas, fiber, Sweetener, Probiotics, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS therapy, IBS Triggers, IBS-C, IBS-D, Soy Products, FiberSure (tm), Heather's Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber (tm), Benefiber (tm), Digesting Information |
2 comments
Don’t Drink the Water
In my teens, quite a while ago, I often mentioned tummy pains to my family doctor. While the diagnosis of IBS didn’t exist, he did give me a word of wisdom that helped. He said: “Don’t drink ice water!”
I have now extended that to “Don’t drink cold, refrigerated water!” I have a bottle of (fresh) room-temperature water in the kitchen. I mix it in varying amounts with cold water from the refrigerator. Keeps my IBS tummy happy!
The thing is, really cold water, especially on an empty stomach, triggers the gastrocolic reflex, that demon that we want to keep sleeping!
Gastrocolic Reflex
The nice thing is that by drinking cold water on an empty stomach, and triggering your gastrocolic reflex, you become aware of what it feels like. You know the effect on your IBS symptoms because the cramping, or bowel moving, or gas passing, that is part of your IBS, pops up in miniature. When you know what it feels like to have an IBS trigger activate your gastrocolic reflex, you can chase the gastrocolic reflex with a banana, or banana chips, or some rice, or rice crackers, or some soluble fiber (Benefiber ™, Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber ™, or FiberSure ™). So you have some control over the later and stronger IBS reaction that would otherwise come.
Is that clear? I’m trying to say (1) Recognize when your IBS trigger has hit your gastrocolic reflex, using cold/ice water; (2) chase your IBS trigger by eating one of the IBS soothers I’ve listed above.
Nice!
Somehow that strategy, chasing after a mistake you made in eating or drinking something you shouldn’t, is a really nice “benefit” of having IBS. :-/ There are not many things in life that really allow you to undo the past. This is one of them!
July 11th, 2007
Posted by
tummyblogger |
Gastrocolic Reflex, fiber, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS Triggers, IBS food, FiberSure (tm), Heather's Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber (tm), Benefiber (tm), Prebiotics |
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