Nutrition and healthy eating

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• January 12, 2012 7:01 p.m.

  All very interesting, but I have another question. For many years I have been taking psyllium (matamucil), cinnamon, niacin and omega fish oil to keep my ldl steady at 100. I cannot tolerate statins of any form or Zetia. Several months ago I discovered the triglyceride-lowering effects of inulin, so added two teaspoons of it to my regular regimen. My recent blood panel had my ldl up to 115. Now I wonder whether the inulin is competing with the psyllium and reducing its ldl-lowering effects. Is there any supporting research on this topic? Thanks. MEL

  - mike

• October 26, 2011 10:46 a.m.

  I HAVE BEEN TAKING MIRA LAX EVERY DAY PER MY DOCTOR'S advise..It does help sometimes but now I have been having terrible stomach pains. I don;t know if it is related to the miralax or if it is something else. This is a horrible way to live. I just don;t know how people do this. It has gotten me so depressed. I have no idea where to turn. I just would like some relief.

  - jim

• October 21, 2011 8:37 a.m.

  Fiber bars with chicory root are the greatest processed food innovation since sliced bread. After 15 years of chronic constipation and loads of fiber supplements and so called high fiber foods, plus Miralax, the fiber bars did the trick by causing more bulk in my stools.

  - Tom

• September 18, 2011 9:35 p.m.

  I WAS ADVISED BY MY DOCTOR TO TAKE MIRALAX EVERY MORNING FOR CONSTIPATION. AT FIRST IT WORKED GREAT, NOW AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, MY STOOL IS SMALL. I DO NOT GO EVERY DAY AND I AM HAVING SEVERE LEG CRAMPS. I READ THAT ORAL OSMOTICS CAN LEAD TO ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE, WHICH INCLUDE CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, SODIUM,CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM,( I AM ALREADY TAKING A POTASSIUM PRESCRIPTION), REGULATE MUSCLE CONTRACTION, HEART RHYTHM, NERVE FUNCTION, FLUID BALANCE AND OTHER BODY FUNCTIONS, AS WELL HAS ABNORMAL HEART RHYTHMS, WEAKNESS, CONFUSION AND SEIZURES. GEE, THE DOC. SAID IT WAS SAFE!

  - Linda

• August 10, 2011 12:49 a.m.

  hi i am 23 year old i have very normal diet i avoid outside food i have tried everything but im suffering from constipation it clears one time in a day very thin stools like loose motion i m suffering this from past 12 ddays help me out

  - kapil

• August 2, 2011 1:47 p.m.

  I think that products that have added inulin or chicory root extract should carry a warning label. It may have some health benefits but it also can cause problems for some people. I bought a new kind of granola and my son ate it for a few days and had severe lower abdominal pain. He finally figured out it was caused by the granola, which we discovered contained inulin. I can eat this cereal if I am really careful to just have 1/2 cup or less. If I eat more, the same thing happens to me and it is very sharp pain that doubles you over. I can eat other high fiber foods without inulin or chicory seed extract and have no problem. My son and I are healthy. I would think that if someone with health issues had this happen to them, the effects would even be worse. So, beware. I really read labels to check for this stuff now.

  - T

• March 10, 2011 8:01 a.m.

  I think it is great! We Americans are getting fatter & fatter. We need anything that will help us stop that. Fiber helps by filling us up, curbing appetite, keeping the bowels moving, and slowing down the digestion of sugar... or so i've read. (hard to know what to believe any more).

  - Deborah

• February 8, 2011 8:57 a.m.

  I am very thankful for products with Inulin for my gluten free diet. I eat very well, but it's great to have something to take with me on vacation or away from home. Especially KIND bars, they are my favorite by far!!!

  - Rose

• December 22, 2010 8:28 a.m.

  Kneading dough is a very important part of making any sort of bread. Well kneaded dough will result in better bread. Adding water in small lots, knead your dough and keep going till it's soft and smooth. I never tire of poking a ball of dough, marveling at it's soft and pliable texture. Every once in a while press down on the dough with the heel of your palm and keeping the pressure firm, spread the dough by extending your hand forward. This will result in the dough getting thinly spread on to the utensil or board. iron rich foods

  - john

• November 4, 2010 2:53 a.m.

  Why is that my stool was black after consuming 'fiber max' , a kind of powdery fiber supplement. Or is it because I had a serious problem with my intestinal organ.Thanks.

  - Jack Onn

• October 28, 2010 9:06 a.m.

  I noticed that most of the comments here are from people who already eat very healthy. Even the authors of the post note that they already eat healthy--real fruit and yogurt for breakfast. The products that are receiving added fiber are not for people who are already eating 5+ servings of fruits and veggies and only eating whole grain. They're being made for the people who don't do that. If we can help someone who only eats things that taste like candy bars get more fiber in their diet, that's awesome. If you're already ridiculously conscious about eating fruits/veggies/whole grains, why are you buying fiber-added products anyway? If you're eating lots of fiber and still having problems with constipation (due to medication, age, etc.) try adding a laxative to your routine. MiraLax taking at a fraction of the recommended dosage will help you tremendously (start at 1/4 and increase until you're happy with the results). If you're already getting enough fiber, more fiber is not the answer.

  - Kendra

• August 28, 2010 2:37 p.m.

  In response to Donna, I too have to be very careful with high fiber foods (lima beans,black beans,etc.) and fiber supplements (Metamucil). Very difficult to manage constipation/slow transit time.

  - dale

• July 9, 2010 8:57 a.m.

  I find that these "high fiber" products actually cause constipation for me! I tried one that I stirred into water or drinks, starting with a small amount once a day and very gradually increasing it over time. My bowels slowed more and more as the amount increased! I stopped, and it improved. Tried a yogurt product with probiotic and it helped, but gradually stopped helping so I tried the one with fiber and it was immediately worse. I am 56 and hormone changes are slowing my bowels. I eat 4 - 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, only whole grain, drink water lots, exercise and still way too slow. Has anyone else had these products make the situation worse? I would rather just add more whole food with nutrients, but I have to watch the calories for the day, and everything adds up.

  - Donna

• July 5, 2010 6:47 a.m.

  Apple cider vinegar, about 2 teaspoons in a large glass of water, twice a day does it for me. I have had constipation for years, and this is the best solution I have found. I took Activia yogert for a while, but it was costly and seemed to be less active with time. The water may be helpful, because I don't get thursty often and have trouble drinking 10 glasses a day.

  - James

• March 18, 2010 1:30 p.m.

  Do vitamins contribute to constipation? I take a multiple plus extra vitamin D & calcium from dr. orders. I take ginkgo for help with memory. Are these working against me?

  - Mary

• October 28, 2009 5:03 p.m.

  Where are you getting your info? All of what I'm reading is that these "isolated" fibers do not provide the same health benefits as "intact" fibers. Can you point me to a scientific study that PROVES their health benefits?

  - Katie

• August 2, 2009 5:41 p.m.

  As someone who has lost 40 pounds on Weight Watchers in 6 months, I love the extra fiber added to Fiber One bars and other tasty WW snacks. WW points are based on calories, with fat raising points and fiber lowering points. However, I do not depends on prepackaged, inulin-fortified foods to lose weight. It's great when I want something yummy but that isn't all that bad for you (Fiber One bars are only 2 points!). Some people do depend on them, but I love to eat (hence I am on WW) and have totally changed what kinds of foods I buy and keep around the house so I can eat more in a day. Getting nutrients as they occur naturally is great, but sometimes when it comes down to it, it can be beneficial and/ the lesser of the evils.

  - Shelby

• July 13, 2009 3:22 a.m.

  A lot of people (me included) get major gas from chicory root. I've been vegetarian and almost vegan (am allergic to eggs and dairy) for decades and am used to a lot more fiber than typical carnivores, and also routinely take acidophilus-type supplements. So even if eating a lot of beans, I don't usually get much gas, my body knows how to deal with it. But chicory root is just too much for some reason. They're putting it in my favorite multigrain bread now to get the fiber up to some insanely high value, so I head toward the 100% whole wheat instead (hopefully they won't mess with that, it's "low fiber" in comparison now). Some wonderful vegan "ice cream", Purely Decadent (yes, it lives up to its name), has 5 grams of fiber in 1/4 pint because of the chicory. If I pig out on that (too, too easy to do), I'll get horribly persistent and painful trapped gas for days that only slowly breaks up with a lot of help from activated charcoal capsules... I was just reading elsewhere reports by people having gas problems with the Fiber One bars, which though tasty list chicory as the first ingredient. So be cautious! Probably best to introduce chicory-containing food slowly despite the attraction of quick high fiber. Of course, adding fiber to your diet should be done gradually anyway, but my experience (as someone already used to a lot of fiber) shows that chicory is something different than usual sources of fiber.

  - jwoolman

• July 11, 2009 10:38 a.m.

  Wow. pros and cons showing up here... I think it is risky to throw anything into our food that is not appropriate for the majority of the population. I think we should add fiber to our diet ourselves if we want it added, not in food that is mass produced. All things in moderation...and you can get too much fiber as well. I think there is a risk that someone may end up eating too much of this type of food and be hospitalized for dehydration caused from diarrhea. A child may be especially at risk. Of course we do not have to purchase these items. We do always have a choice. If these items do not sell well, the maker will stop selling them. Remember....An apple a day helps keep the doctor away!!!

  - Teri

• June 19, 2009 2:25 p.m.

  I think the biggest issue here is that it is being added to foods that are otherwise clearly very unhealthy, and those foods can then tout a health claim. Take Fiber One bars for example. Note the ingredient list. To me it reads: Fiber, chocolate, chocolate, sugar, sugar, chocolate, chocolate, sugar ... some possibly healthy but mostly odd ingredients .. five more references to sugar. Chicory Root Extract , Chocolate Chips with Confectioner Shellac , Chocolate Chips , Sugar , Chocolate Liquor , Cocoa Butter , Dextrose , Milk Fat , Soy Lecithin , Ethanol , Shellac , Hydrogenated Coconut Oil , Rolled Oats , Crisp Rice , Rice Flour , Sugar , Malt , Salt , Barley Flakes , High Maltose Corn Syrup , High Fructose Corn Syrup , Sugar , Canola Oil , Honey , Glycerin , Maltodextrin , Palm Kernel Oil , Tricalcium Phosphate , Soy Lecithin , Salt , Nonfat Milk , Peanut Oil , Cocoa Processed with Alkali , Natural Flavor , Baking Soda , Color Added , Almond Flour , Peanut Flour , Sunflower Meal , Wheat Flour , Mixed Tocopherols Added to Retain Freshness

  - Matt

• June 17, 2009 9:00 p.m.

  I didn't know what Inulin is and have wondered when I saw it listed on food labels. Thanks for this good info. I take medication that is binding, even though I eat lots of healthy fiber foods. I think I'll add more Inulin products (healthy, of course) to my diet to see if it helps with the constipation.

  - Chelea

• June 17, 2009 2:50 p.m.

  I could not agree more! What we all have to remember is that food companies are not about health - they are about selling their products. If a food company could make dog poop look and taste attractive & get their marketing people to create fancy jingles & commercials, there will be a percentage of the population that will buy it & eat it. And the more we are brain-washed, the more we will eat it. This inulin may not be the worst thing for us but fresh fruits & vegetables are still the best thing since sliced bread!

  - Janet

• June 16, 2009 3:57 p.m.

  Adding inulin to food to make it more healthy reminds me of how Tang* was once billed as a healthy drink because it had vitamin C added to it. Why not drink straight orange juice that hasn't had the vitamin c taken out of it? You will get a bunch of other nutrients (some of which we may not have discovered yet) as well? This goes for all processed foods with claims like "fiber added" or "antioxidant enriched" or whatever. I'm so sick of how people keep falling for these advertising claims. If these companies were truly concerned with health, they wouldn't have taken the health out of the food to begin with. *The only good reason to drink Tang instead of orange juice is that you are an astronaut and Tang is easier to pack on the spaceship. That is who Tang was originally developed for. The rest of us do not need not bother with it, and we should not be letting food manufacturers convince us otherwise.

  - Sonja

• June 14, 2009 12:45 a.m.

  I'm all in favor of manufacturers adding fiber into foods, even though I get a good percentage of my daily fiber requirements from my standard breakfast of Fiber One, banana and skim milk. Now if we could only get these manufacturers to eliminate things like excess salt and corn syrup from their products we'd really be in better shape.

  - Annice