This fiber and laxative giant produces their key ingredients in capsules, powders and even wafers. Their product is meant to expand in the body which in turn reduces the amount of food you take in.
Metamucil products are meant to be taken by people that are at last 12 or older and with large amounts of water to supplement.. Also it’s recommended to be taken upright as choking hazards exist.
While it features an all natural ingredient, just how powerful is it? Let’s venture further.
Procter & Gamble acquired this brand since 1985. Last year they made 83 billion dollars thru all their products they distribute across the US.
They were fined 211 million euros for running an illegal price fixing scheme that made it hard for competitors to compete. They plead guilty and admitted they were at fault.
The product features an all natural fiber source that is meant to become almost glue like inside the GI tract and stomach. By reducing the amount of sugar and carbs absorbed, blood sugar levels don’t suddenly spike and overwhelm. This also is meant to reduce the rate of hunger by leaving the body feeling satisfied.
While fiber is good in peoples diets this specific source can become lodged in the throat making choking hazards a potential threat. Water also becomes very important to take in as it can become stuck inside the body and in turn cause negative effects.
There are sources of fiber that naturally exist in foods that don’t have the potential risk of choking. The FDA even issued a warning that this product needs extra care as complications are a serious issue that may result.
Psyllium Husks offer fiber that due to FDA concerns may be a detrimental source as opposed to other sources. Luckily all natural supplements do exist that do not have potentially overwhelming and obstructive side effects.
Potential Side Effects:Bloating, flatulence, gas, abdominal pains, diarrhea, irregular stool, frequent bathroom trips, dehydration, asphyxiation, choking, and intestinal failure.
Available in most major retailers and in many different forms.
Their formulas often contain counter intuitive ingredients that may worsen what it intends to cure. For example their powdered formula contains food coloring which can cause hypersensitivity in some and even aspartame which can lead to digestion issues.. Ther granola bars contains 12 grams of sugars like corn syrup which can actually increase potential obesity.
This leaves their capsules which only has Psyllium Husks, however these husks can significantly reduce the intake of vitamins and minerals. This in turn would require extra supplementation that this brand does not offer. It’s unknown just how much vitamins and minerals may be lost however in some this may prove troublesome.
The fact that large amounts of water are necessary is also important to recall. Without sufficient water you risk feeling clogged up which leads to many side effects. Also this product can cause a serious choking hazard that the FDA themselves have confirmed.Safer and cheaper ingredients that have fiber do exist. Instead of the associated supplementation of water and staying upright to avoid choking, fiber does exist from easier to take supplements and even wholesome foods such as cheap oatmeal.
Though they offer an all natural ingredient in their brands, it still leaves a lot to be desired. Psyllium Husks can be overwhelming and they require additional added steps that need to be met or there is a risk of side effects such as choking.
Fiber is a good thing but there’s better sources from it that don’t require extra water and that don’t raise the risk of clogging inside the body. In fact fiber is found in many foods that are readily available and inexpensive in comparison to the products offered by this brand.
What is additionally concerning is the ingredients sourced in their brands. Some contain blood sugar raising corn syrups and headache and mood deregulating food colorings. There is a lot of sugar as well in one of their products which can complicate the rate of digestion.
All said there are cheaper alternatives for fiber that don’t require special maintenance.
Bottom Line:
While the product does seem great at first glance, there are too many potential problems that limit its potential. Risking a potential loss of nutrients and choking hazard shouldn’t be an issue, that’s why alternative all natural solutions do exist.
Making sure you get the right product shouldn’t require bowel movements that potentially can be frequent or painful. Look at the products meant to increase the quality of life without the extra maintenance required to start.
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