How Does Metamucil Lower Cholesterol

What Other Drugs Will Affect Metamucil

Metamucil can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth, possibly making them less effective. If you take any oral medicines, take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine.

Other drugs may affect Metamucil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

How Much Does Metamucil Lower Ldl Cholesterol

In a meta-analysis1 of 8 studies involving 384 people with high cholesterol levels who had been following a low-fat diet for several weeks, adding psyllium supplementation lowered LDL cholesterol an additional 7%.

Another well-designed study,2 from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, found that 197 people who had been taking psyllium for 6 months netted LDL cholesterol levels that were 6.7% lower than the 51 people in the placebo group.

Doses For Other Conditions

The University of Michigan Health System reports that research and doctors use the following daily doses: constipation, 5 g one to two times a day diverticular disease, 7 g irritable bowel syndrome, 3.25 g three times a day diabetes, 5.1 g three times a day with meals diarrhea, 9 g to 30 g hemorrhoids, 7 g three times a day high triglycerides, 15 g.

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How To Take Metamucil

Take Metamucil with at least 8 ounces of water or another liquid. If the powder is too thick and causes difficulty swallowing, add extra liquid to thin the mixture. Do not take more than recommended on the label or prescribed by your doctor. Psyllium can inhibit the absorption of some medications, so take medication at least two hours before or after taking Metamucil.

Psyllium: Because Sometimes You Do Just Need More Fiber

Psyllium is the active ingredient in all Metamucil products. The name, in fact, comes from the mucilaginous property of psyllium, the slimy soluble fiber effect youll also find in soaked flaxseeds, chia seeds, aloe, slippery elm and Sea moss.

The key to resolving constipation through fiber intake is taking in the actual fiber. And it works.

Psyllium is one of the most health supportive and powerful fibre supplements. It is like the great grand-daddy of the fibre world. Yes, it can be gag-inducingly awful to get down, but it is worth it.

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Other Benefits With Psyllium

Consistent use of psyllium may have other positive effects on health, Dr. Simon says.

We are also seeing other benefits with this product, such as blood pressure lowering and reductions in markers of blood sugar elevation in patients with diabetes, Dr. Simon says.

The best part is that it is a natural approach that does not rely on medicine, with their potential side effects, he says.

When patients find out they can have these kinds of benefits from a natural fiber product, most people say, I’m game, I’m in, he says.

I really can’t think of a downside to using this product. It’s convenient, it’s easy to use and it will help you get more fiber in your diet, which most of us are lacking,” Dr. Simon says. “Plus, it has the potential to reduce coronary heart disease as a consequence of lowering cholesterol.

Does Metamucil Help Lower Blood Sugar

Metamucil’sMetamucilhelphelpblood sugar levels

Metamucil contains powdered psyllium husks, a rich source of soluble fiber. Psyllium may also help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Studies have shown that psyllium can lower both total and LDL cholesterol levels, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Additionally, does psyllium reduce blood sugar? Fiber supplementation has been shown to control glycemic response to a meal and reduce insulin and blood sugar levels. Bottom Line: Psyllium is able to delay food digestion, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. A daily dose of 10.2 grams ingested with meals appears to significantly affect blood sugar levels.

Also Know, can Fiber supplements lower blood sugar?

– People with diabetes who take soluble fiber supplements have slightly lower blood sugar than diabetics who don’t add this type of fiber to their diets, a research review finds. They also had lower blood sugar levels on an empty stomach, known as fasting glucose levels.

Is Metamucil high in sugar?

Yes, Metamucil offers Orange Smooth Powder, Berry Smooth Powder, and Lemon Lime Smooth Powder . Metamucil Fibre Capsules do not contain any sugar, sweeteners, or artificial sweeteners.

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Metamucil Sugar Free Psyllium Fiber Powder Orange 368 Oz

HOW TO TAKE METAMUCIL 1. Put 1-2 rounded Tablespoons in empty glass. 2. Mix briskly with 8 oz or more of cool liquid. 3. Drink promptly and enjoy HOW MUCH TO TAKE. The psyllium husk fiber in Metamucil helps support DIGESTIVE HEALTH by promoting regularity, HEART HEALTH by lowering cholesterol, HEALTHY BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS take before each meal 1 ROUNDED TEASPOON up to 3 times per day. APPETITE CONTROL take before each meal – 2 ROUNDED TEASPOONS up to 3 times per day. Bulk-forming fibers like psyllium husk may affect how well medicines work. Take this product at least 2 hours before or after medicines. NEW USERS Start with one serving per day gradually increase to desired daily intake. You may experience changes in bowel habits/minor bloating, as your body adjusts to increased fiber intake. Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of soluble fiber per day from psyllium husk, as in Metamucil, may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. One serving of Metamucil has 2.4 grams of this soluble fiber. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.Continue reading > >

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Here Is What I Say About Their Bars

This is actually a candy bar. Likely a bad tasting one.

It is broken down as:

Dietary Fiber: 4 grams

Metamucil Math: Part 2

When we add up the dietary fiber, soluble fiber and sugar, we get 19 grams.

Where is the extra 11 grams that make up the total carbs? Well nutrition labels typically wont list the grams of starch. Those 11 grams are starch, which breaks down in the body into simple sugars. What we end up having is in fact 7 grams of fiber and 23 grams of sugar.

Extra fun: Go back up and look at the ingredient list for this bar. How many forms of sugar can you count?

Given that psyllium is largely soluble fiber, and that it is really the only active ingredient in these bars, you might be interested to know:

• 3 Tbsp of flaxseeds contains approximately 3 grams of soluble fiber
• 1/2 cup beans or chickpeas contains 2 grams of soluble fiber
• 2/3 cup of cooked oatmeal contains 3 grams of soluble fiber
• An orange has 2 grams of soluble fiber
• 1 cup of cooked asparagus has 3.4 grams of soluble fiber
• 1 medium avocado has 3.4 grams of soluble fiber

What Does This Mean? If you eat a well rounded plant-rich diet , you are going to be getting way more fiber than whats in this bar.

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Coverage And Cost Comparison Of Benefiber Vs Metamucil

Benefiber is an OTC supplement that is not typically covered by commercial or Medicare insurance. Typical retail packaging for Benefiber would be a 248 g bottle, which can cost as much as $21. If your healthcare provider writes a prescription for Benefiber, a coupon from SingleCare can lower the price to less than $15.

Metamucil is also an OTC supplement that is not generally covered by commercial or Medicare insurance. Common packaging would be a box containing 44 dose packets of Metamucil powder. A coupon from SingleCare would make it possible to get Metamucil for around $17 .

Benefiber

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How Metamucil Works

Metamucil is made up of psyllium which is a soluble fiber. Once it reaches your stomach, it transforms into a gel-type substance which traps some of the cholesterol from the meal in which you just consumed. Trapped in the gel, the cholesterol is then passed through the body without being absorbed and gets pushed out along with all the other waste. This means that by absorbing less cholesterol with your meals, your body can eventually reduce the harmful amount of cholesterol that is left over time.

Obviously, the less cholesterol you consume, the better the Metamucil will work to absorb what is there. This is why following a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet is highly recommended. It is important to take the Metamucil in the proper dosage otherwise complications in the digestive system may occur.

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What Is Metamucil 4

Pros Offers an alternative way to get one form of fiber when people struggle to get enough fiber from food Health claims are mostly evidence-based Has additional health benefits beyond digestion

Cons Consumers may mistake fiber supplements as being just as healthful as fiber-rich food To reach some of the health claims, consumers must take a lot of this product per day Potential for extra gas and bloating in people who are not used to fiber in their diet

Metamucil is a fiber supplement that is mostly soluble. Its active ingredient is the psyllium husk of the dried Plantago ovata seed.

Psyllium has been determined to be GRAS by the FDA. It is sometimes used in commercial cereals and as a food thickener in products like ice cream.

Metamucil comes in several different forms, including powders that are to be mixed in 8 oz of water, capsules, wafers, and chewable tablets.

For comparison purposes of this article, I will focus on the Metamucil 4-in-1 powder form.

Because psyllium husk is not 100% soluble, it does not dissolve completely in water, so it has a somewhat grainy texture when drinking the mixture.

Metamucil adds maltodextrin, citric acid, aspartame, orange flavor, and yellow 6 for palatability.

Mr Monastyrsky So What Can I Do To Lower My Cholesterol And Reduce My Risk Of Heart Disease

Well, a complete answer to this question will require a season-long mini-series, and, then, some… So lets be practical, and concentrate on the fiber-related aspects of this quagmire:

Again, thank you for watching!

Take good care of yourself!

God bless you and your family!

Footnotes

1 Metamucil: Top 10 Reasons to love Metamucil

2 Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber: a meta-analysis1,2 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

3 Metamucil: Top 10 Reasons to love Metamucil

4 Food Labeling: Health Claims Soluble Fiber From Whole Oats and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Food and Drug Administration, HHS

5 Food Labeling: Health Claims Soluble Fiber From Certain Foods and Coronary Heart Disease Food and Drug Administration, HHS

6 Fiber, Lipids, and Coronary Heart Disease A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Nutrition Committee, American Heart Association Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD

7 Step I , Step II and TLC Diets American Heart Association

8 Dietary intake and changes in lipoprotein lipids in obese, postmenopausal women placed on an American Heart Association Step 1 diet

9 Problem with American Heart Association “Step 1” diet From the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients

10 PLOS Medicine: Eight Americas: Investigating Mortality Disparities across Races, Counties, and Race-Counties in the United States September 12, 2006

11 Life Expectancy Drops for Some U.S. Women David Brown Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, April 22, 2008

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Benefits Of Psyllium Fibre

• Laxative Effect: Increasing colonic bulk stimulates propulsion . Psyllium husk provides the bulk that gives your colon something to grip on to and strengthen against like a resistance band. It increases stool weight, while toning the smooth muscle that is the colon and promotes laxation by increasing the moisture content of our poop.
• Anti-Carcinogenic Effect: The structure of psyllium fibre is like a magnet to toxic waste in the digestive system it grabs on for dear life and removes it from our bodies. In short, it helps remove waste efficiently.
• Intestinal Health: The colon of the human gastrointestinal tract contains a large population of resident bacteria. In fact, 55% of the solids in poo is microbial biomass. Psyllium is awesome at maintaining the bacterial balance in our colon, which then strengthens immune function.
• The Great Sponge: Psyllium can absorb a huge mass of water and other stuff. It has the ability to absorb excess bile, cholesterol and hormones like estrogen from the colon. If these arent removed efficiently, they get reabsorbed but this doesnt mean the body stops producing them. The body will still produce cholesterol and so cholesterol levels go up. The body will still produce estrogen and so estrogen levels go up. And do we all know what high estrogen levels mean? Weepy tantrums during PMS and greater breast cancer risk to name two.

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How To Use Metamucil To Lower Cholesterol

• Diet and Nutrition

Too-high low-density lipoprotein one type of cholesterol is one of the primary risk factors for heart disease. High cholesterol can be genetic, but it is often caused by an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and other lifestyle factors. In addition to changing your diet and exercising more, your doctor may recommend a fiber supplement that contains a certain type of fiber called soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol. Metamucil is one brand of this type of supplement. Always consult your doctor before using Metamucil.

Soluble Fiber Attracts Cholesterol

• Metamucil is composed almost entirely of psyllium husk, a natural fiber grain that is 60 percent to 70 percent soluble fiber. Like insoluble fiber, the other primary type of dietary fiber, soluble fiber is not digested in the body. It travels through your body and is excreted in waste. However, when it comes into contact with fluid in your stomach, soluble fiber transforms into a gel-like consistency. As it moves through your digestive tract, it attracts cholesterol molecules and carries them out of the body before they can be absorbed into your bloodstream.

How to Use It

How Much Fiber You Need

Considerations

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What Are The Main Differences Between Benefiber And Metamucil

Benefiber is an over-the-counter soluble fiber supplement. The active ingredient in Benefiber is wheat dextrin. Benefiber absorbs water in the intestinal tract. This stimulates peristalsis or the repetitive contraction and relaxation of intestinal muscle. While this process ultimately moves intestinal contents, it slows the transit time through the intestine. Benefiber is available as a powder in packets or bulk packaging as well as oral or chewable tablets. There are sugar-free and gluten-free formulations available as well.

Metamucil is an OTC soluble fiber. Metamucil is made from psyllium husks, which come from seeds of an Indian herb known as Plantago ovata. Metamucil works in the same manner as Benefiber, stimulating peristalsis, and slowing intestinal transit. Metamucil is available as a powder in packets or bulk packaging as well as capsules. Some formulations are also sugar-free and gluten-free.

Main differences between Benefiber and Metamucil
Benefiber

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Can Metamucil Lower Your Blood Pressure

3.9/5Metamucilain your blood pressureMetamuciltheain blood sugarlower blood pressure

Adding water-soluble fibers like psyllium to your diet might reduce blood triglycerides, blood pressure and the risk of heart disease . Furthermore, a diet with an additional 12 grams of fiber from psyllium supplementation reduced systolic blood pressure by 5.9 mmHg in 36 people with high blood pressure .

One may also ask, does Metamucil lower your blood sugar? Metamucil contains powdered psyllium husks, a rich source of soluble fiber. Psyllium may also help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Studies have shown that psyllium can lower both total and LDL cholesterol levels, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Regarding this, can Fiber lower your blood pressure?

Studies have shown that eating sufficient amounts of fiber daily can help reduce and prevent high blood pressure. People who consume the recommended amount of daily fiber also experience lower cholesterol, normal bowel movements, overall bowel health, and lower blood sugar.

Is it OK to take Metamucil every day?

As a dietary fibre supplement:Metamucil can be taken every day up to three times per day as a dietary fibre supplement. If you are considering use of Metamucil as part of a cholesterol-lowering program* please follow label’s instructions for correct directions and always consult a doctor before using.