Why Fiber?

You might want to get more fiber in your diet for a couple of reasons. You might do it just to improve your overall health, or you might be trying to treat a specific condition.

Without revealing Too Much Information, I'll just say that I first went looking for a dietary fiber supplement when my doctor diagnosed me with an early and mild case of a condition which, if left untreated, can become slightly more serious -- to the point of eventually requiring surgery. He recommended a high fiber diet.

The pamphlet he gave me was very informative, and had me eating plenty of fiber-rich foods that I already enjoyed, but in rather larger quantities than I would have chosen.

Being the type of person who likes to eat what he likes to eat, not to mention a bit on the lazy side, my first thought was to ask about getting some of my fiber through some sort of supplement. My doctor said I could try a fiber-based laxative product, like Metamucil, that you dissolve in water and drink. I asked if fiber supplements available in pill or capsule form would be OK too. He said yes, as long as the main ingredient was psyllium husk powder.

Armed with this information, I went to the trusty internet and found Yerba Prima Daily Fiber Caps.

What Is It

Daily Fiber Caps is basically the active ingredient in products like Metamucil, concentrated and packaged in easy to swallow capsules. One serving consists of four capsules, and contains 8 calories and 2.2g of carbohydrates. If you're on a low carb diet, note that most of these carbs are in the form of non-digestible, soluble fiber. The label says that each serving contains less than 0.5g of digestible carbohydrates -- which is what you count if your on a diet like The Zone.

How Do You Take It

You simply swallow a four capsule serving with a full glass of water or liquid about a half hour before a meal. Swallow one capsule at a time. Drinking extra water is "helpful" according to the product label.

Effectiveness

Since this is a dietary supplement and not a medication, claims of effectiveness are not vetted by any government or regulatory body. Basically your only guarantee is that the product is safe. Even though they can say basically anything they want, the only claim made by the manufacturer is that the product "supports digestive health".

Anecdotally, I can say that my little "problem" has been all but eliminated since I started using this product in conjunction with a moderately higher-fiber diet. There are also a number of potential general health benefits to a high fiber diet (besides "digestive health"). High on this list for me is the effect on cholesterol levels. I can report (again, anecdotally) that my cholesterol (which gets checked for free every two months when I give blood) has routinely and without exception been in the "low" range. Note, however, that I've been taking this product for longer than I've been regularly donating, so I don't have any comparative data to support a causal relationship between my fiber intake and my cholesterol. In other words, my cholesterol may very well have been low before I ever started using Daily Fiber Caps (although my diet and family history would suggest otherwise).

Cautions

The most serious potential downside is the warning on the label that some people are allergic to psyllium. This is supposedly most common in health care workers who are occupationally exposed to psyllium dust. I don't know how psyllium dust is used in the health care industry, or what types of health care workers may be subject to such exposure. A "strong reaction" is defined as difficulty swallowing or breathing, and requires immediate medical attention.

Anyway, based on this, my advice would be that, as with any supplement, you should talk to your doctor before using the product. And to be on the extra safe side, refrain from using it for the first one or two times unless you're at home, or somewhere that you have some kind of access to medical care.

I've also read that lots of fiber in general can interfere with the absorption of other substances in your digestive system, including drugs and medications. For this reason, I avoid taking medications, or even my daily vitamins, within a couple of hours either way of my Daily Fiber Caps. If you are on medication for a serious condition, this might be another thing to discuss with your doctor.

Where To Get It

I have only found this product for sale over the internet. Prices range from about $7 to $10 for a 180 capsule (45 serving) bottle. Prices as well as shipping costs and sales tax policy varies from site to site, so shop around. Expiration dates tend to be at least a couple of years out (my latest shipment, purchased in June 2007, doesn't expire until some time in the summer of 2010), so you have the freedom to buy in quantity and stock up if you so choose. A number of stores have free shipping over a certain order value, or have flat rate shipping no matter how much you buy. In either case, the more you buy at once the less you pay for shipping, so I usually end up buying at least six months worth at a time.

The product may be available in some specialty retail stores (GNC comes to mind), but the only one I've looked in was Vitamin Shoppe and they did not carry it. The manufacturer's web site may be able to help you find a local brick-and-mortar retailer if you prefer to shop that way.


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