What Are The Benefits Of Taking Metamucil?

It is common for many people today to use dietary supplements like Metamucil to relieve digestive issues like constipation. Metamucil is a fiber supplement that is specifically manufactured to give relief from constipation. Metamucil is basically made from psyllium, which is a form of soluble fiber that is derived from the seed husks of the plant Plantago ovata. It is typically used to lower cholesterol or relieve constipation. With so many people suffering from constipation and other digestive issues nowadays, here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of taking Metamucil.

Metamucil is a fiber supplement that is frequently used by people to relieve constipation and support regular bowel movements. Some people also use Metamucil for weight management since the supplement helps reduce appetite and gives rise to feelings of fullness.^{(1, 2, 3, 4)} However, while many people use Metamucil, the supplement is also associated with many side effects, leading many to question its safety and effectiveness for weight loss.⁽⁵⁾

Nevertheless, Metamucil remains a leading fiber supplement for relieving constipation. It is an over-the-counter soluble fiber supplement that is a brand of psyllium, which is a form of soluble fiber. Psyllium is derived from the husk of the seeds of a plant named Plantago ovata, also known as blond plantain.^{(6, 7)} As mentioned, Metamucil is a type of soluble fiber, which means that it is able to absorb water from the intestines and forms a gel-like consistency while passing through the digestive tract.^{(8, 9)}

Metamucil is usually used to boost digestive health, reduce cholesterol levels, decrease appetite, and also promote better blood sugar control. The supplement also supports regular bowel movements by trapping or absorbing water in the intestines, helping the passage of stool from the body.

Metamucil is available in capsule, powder, and wafer form, and you can easily purchase it over the counter without needing a prescription.

This supplement belongs to a class of drugs known as laxatives, and it can also be known as fiber, ispaghula, or a bulk-forming laxative. Metamucil reduces cholesterol by trapping bile acid in the gut, which gets eliminated with the body’s waste instead of getting reabsorbed. Metamucil increases the bulk in your stool, which helps boost the movement of the intestines, thus promoting the movement of stool. The supplement also works by increasing the amount of water present in the stool, which makes the stool softer and therefore easier to pass.⁽¹⁰⁾

There are many benefits associated with Metamucil. Some of these include:

• Metamucil Helps Promote Regular Bowel Movements: The psyllium fiber found in Metamucil helps promote digestive health. It helps you maintain regular bowel movements, and it can be used for the treatment of occasional constipation. Having regular bowel movements helps improve your gut health and also relieves the symptoms of other digestive conditions such as diverticulosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). ^{(11, 12, 13)} The soluble fiber present in Metamucil helps feed the good bacteria present in your intestines, which is good for digestion.
• Helps Maintain Your Blood Sugar Levels: As mentioned above, Metamucil turns into a viscous gel that helps trap sugars that are slowly released and absorbed into the bloodstream. This helps in the maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels.^{(14, 15)}
• Helps Promote Heart Health By Reducing Cholesterol: The gel-like psyllium also helps trap some of the bile acids in your small intestine, which prevents it from getting reabsorbed. These trapped bile acids are then passed into the large intestine along with other waste and eliminated from the body. The liver draws cholesterol from the blood in order to produce new bile acids, thus lowering your blood cholesterol levels. A systematic review published in BMJ in 2013 discovered that a higher intake of fiber could help reduce the risk of both heart disease and coronary heart disease.⁽¹⁶⁾
• Helps in Weight Loss: There are many weight loss products, programs, and dietitians that recommend increasing your intake of fiber-rich foods to make the body feel full for a longer period of time.^{(17, 18)} This helps reduce your appetite and helps with weight loss. It is the gel-like substance formed by the psyllium fiber in Metamucil in the stomach that helps you feel fuller for a longer time. This helps curb your hunger in between meals and also reduces your appetite. However, it should be noted that fiber supplements like Metamucil are not approved as weight loss products, and they are not known to have a direct impact on weight loss efforts.

If you are self-treating with Metamucil, it is essential to follow all directions as mentioned on the product package. And if prescribed by the doctor, take it as directed by your doctor, and if you have any questions, make sure to ask your doctor or the pharmacist. If you are taking Metamucil by mouth, make sure to take it with a glass of water to prevent choking. If you are taking Metamucil in wafer form, you should chew them thoroughly before swallowing.

For taking the powder form of this medication, make sure you measure each dosage according to the directions given on the medicine label. It should be mixed in a full glass of water or any other beverage, stir it properly until it is blended completely, and drink it right away. If it becomes too thick, you may add more liquid to the mixture. Be careful not to breathe in the powder while making the mixture as, in rare cases, it may cause an allergic reaction.

The recommended dose for Metamucil Orange Smooth powder for adults is between one to two teaspoons of powder dissolved in liquid. The powdered form of Metamucil mixes well in room temperature, or cool liquids, including water, juice, milk, smoothies, or protein shakes.

The actual dosage of Metamucil is based on your medical condition, age, and how responsive you are to the treatment. Never increase the dosage or take this medication more than directed. At the same time, keep in mind that this product may reduce the absorption of other medicines you are taking. So make sure to inform your doctor about the other medications you are taking. And take Metamucil at least two hours before or after taking your other medications.

It is also important to note that people who do not get much fiber in their diet should only introduce supplements like Metamucil slowly and over a period of time to avoid any sudden side effects. It is best to gradually increase the number of servings of the fiber supplement from one to three per day while also taking into account how the body reacts to the supplement.

Some doctors also recommend that you increase your consumption of liquid while taking the Metamucil supplement as the supplement tends to absorb a lot of water, increasing the risk of dehydration if you are not careful.

As mentioned that the recommended dosage also differs depending on a person’s age, so you should ask a doctor before giving Metamucil supplement to children below the age of 12 years, while the adult doses of the supplement are suitable to give to children over the age of 12.

Increasing your fiber intake by taking a soluble fiber supplement like Metamucil can help promote regular bowel movements, reduce cholesterol, decrease hunger and appetite to promote weight loss, and also help maintain your blood sugar levels. However, as it can interfere with your other medications and sometimes cause digestive issues in some people like gas, bloating, and belching, it is always recommended that you only take Metamucil after consulting your doctor.

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