Can You Lose Weight With Fiber Supplements?

Since ages past, it has been said that fiber helps in weight loss, and this has been further established by modern science through intensive research. While the best source of fiber is from food, there are non-dietary supplements available in the form of powders and pills.

The way in which these supplements help in weight loss by boosting metabolism. A person's metabolism slows down due to age or due to an unhealthy lifestyle. This is one of the primary reasons for a person gaining excess weight.

How Fiber Supplements Help You Lose Weight

When a person's metabolism speeds up, the body is therefore able to burn an increased amount of calories and fat reserves are reduced. Also, the intervals in which a person eats are regulated according to the pace at which the body burns fat. This means that hunger pangs are reduced, and since the urge to overeat is not high, the body is able to make use of the exiting stores of calories to produce energy.

Speeding up metabolism is the only healthy way to lose weight, and foods rich in fiber take care of this task. Fiber also tends to absorb water. This causes a person to increase intake of liquids, and gives the feeling of being "full". Thereby, cravings and binge eating are reduced.

Fiber supplements are supplements that are taken by people who are unable to get adequate amounts of fiber from their diet, or if a person suffers from certain bowel disorders such as Crohn's Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. While medical professionals usually prefer sufferers to consume foods naturally rich in fiber, some cases might warrant other supplements.

Natural sources of these supplements come from legumes, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Other than these, raspberries, whole wheat spaghetti, broccoli and oat bran are also rich in fiber. It is generally suggested that 30 grams of fiber supplements are required by men and 25 grams for women.

The most "in demand" supplement is psyllium husk, and this is found in products like Matamucil. This type of fiber supplement can ease diarrhea and constipation. In order to prevent bloating due to gas, some people prefer Citrucel, which is made from methylcellulose, basically derived out of the parts of plants that cannot be digested.

Recently, acacia, wheat dextrin and guar gum have also been used as supplements, which are available as pills as well as powders. While there is no indication that these supplements are harmful, the best choices are the dietary ones.

Fiber supplements are prescribed to patients suffering from certain bowel conditions, but doctors generally prefer that they get their daily supply of fiber from food. The reason for this is, despite their benefits, fiber supplements do have their side effects, which are not very pleasant. Some supplements can increase bloating and intestinal gas. Others could be harmful to diabetics, and might require a change in medication.

Precautions? Of Course!

There are some precautions to be taken as well since certain medications have been known to have harmful side effects when taken with fiber supplements. In some cases, allergic reactions, in some cases, extreme, could occur. When taken along with antidepressants, fiber supplements could lower the effectiveness of these medicines. Therefore, sufferers might notice increased mood swings.

Fiber supplements taken along with carbamazepine could reduce the effectiveness of this medication. Fiber supplements do help lower cholesterol. However, in some cases, certain drugs could have adverse reactions as they could lower cholesterol levels below the optimal level. Some fiber supplements have been known to lower lithium levels in the blood, thereby causing lithium to lose its effectiveness.

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