Who should use ULTRA FIBER PLUS?
- Individuals experiencing constipation or prolonged intestinal transit times
- Individuals who consume a low dietary fiber intake due to food allergies or sensitivities to wheat or psyllium
- Individuals requiring nutritional support for the maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels and heart health
- Individuals requiring probiotic supplementation such as following a course of antibiotics.
ULTRA FIBER PLUS KEY INGREDIENTS:
Guar gum: The addition of guar gum to a test meal is associated with a flattening of the post-prandial glucose response.Guar gum appears to effect carbohydrate absorption by retarding the emptying of the stomach, inhibiting starch degradation and reducing glucose absorption in the small intestine. Guar gum also has the ability to lower levels of LDL cholesterol while maintaining levels of HDL cholesterol.
Pectin: In animal studies pectin added to the diet produced beneficial changes in the small intestinal villi length and crypt cell proliferation, when comared to fiber-free or cellulose supplemented diets. Pectin has also been shown to have beneficial effects on the health of the colonic mucosa. Pectin, possibly due to its high water solubility, undergoes a significant amount of bacterial degradation to SCFAs. The SCFAs are absorbed by passive diffusion into the mucosal cells where they act as the preferred respiratory fuels.
Barley beta-glucan: Barley with high amounts of fibrous beta-glucan has been shown to produce a significantly lower glycemic and insulin response to carbohydrate challenge.
Oat fiber: In a 24 week cross-over study eight non-insulin dependent male subjects were evaluated for blood glucose, insulin levels and lipids. A diet that contained 19 g fiber per day was compared to a diet that contained 34 g fiber/day using various breads with added oat-bran concentrate. Glycemic and insulin responses improved, along with total and LDL-cholesterol in the high fiber oat-bran concentrate period.
Cellulose fiber: Has been demonstrated to accelerate colonic transit and produce a larger, softer stool that contains more water and is easier to pass. Cellulose fibers are useful in the management of constipation.
Lactobacillus acidophilus: There are several hundred different species of microflora residing in the human intestinal tract. Lactobacilli, of which Lactobacillus acidophilus(L. acidophilus) is one such species, can be found throughout the intestinal tract, even the highly acidic stomach. The usefulness of lacobacilli for treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders was first proposed in 1908 by Metchnikoff . It has been found to be a useful therapeutic adjunct for treating such conditions as antibiotic-induced dybiosis, hypercholesterolemia, vaginal infections, depressed immunity and lactose intolerance.
Second-Meal-Effect: The second-meal-effect has been defined as the ability of one meal to improve glucose tolerance of the next meal. Jenkins et al. first reported this next meal phenomenon when studying the effects of guar gum on glycemic response. Addition of guar to the first 80g glucose load was found to also decrease glycemic response after the second 80g glucose load four hours later. Additionally, free fatty acid levels were reported to be lower four hours after ingesting guar with glucose than after ingesting glucose alone.
Relief for a Common Personal Problem
By Maureen Williams, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (March 23, 2006)—Fiber relieves the discomfort of hemorrhoid symptoms, especially bleeding, according to a review in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2006;101:181–8).
Hemorrhoids are generally associated with conditions that increase the pressure in the veins around the rectum and anus, such as chronic constipation with frequent straining, pregnancy, and childbirth. People with hemorrhoids can experience itching, pain, and bleeding, especially after passing stool.
Drinking more water and eating more fiber is recommended to ease constipation and reduce straining. Stool softeners can also be helpful. Topical medications are typically astringents aimed at constricting the overly dilated veins. Some herbal treatments for hemorrhoids, in addition to acting as astringents, can repair and strengthen the distended walls of veins.
The current review looked at the combined results of seven studies evaluating the effect of fiber supplements on hemorrhoids symptoms. A total of 378 people with hemorrhoids participated in the studies. In each of the studies, the people were randomly assigned to receive either fiber or placebo. Between 7 and 20 grams of fiber (about 1.5 to 4 teaspoons) per day were taken for between 1 and 18 months.
People in the fiber groups were on average 47% more likely to have some improvement and 50% less likely to have bleeding by the end of their study periods than people in placebo groups. Furthermore, in studies with more than one follow-up visit, improvement was noted at the first visit—as early as three weeks—and the degree of improvement did not change between the first and second follow-up visits.
Fiber was found to work quickly and safely, although some of the studies reported mild negative side effects in people using fiber, such as gastrointestinal bloating. None of the people withdrew from the study because of side effects. Another concern with fiber supplements is their tendency to bind other substances in the digestive tract, particularly minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, and others) and some medications, and prevent them from being absorbed. Therefore, healthcare providers should recommend fiber to people with hemorrhoids, but instruct them not to take them at the same time as mineral supplements and medications, and explain the possible side effects.
Maureen Williams, ND, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. She has a private practice in Quechee, VT, and does extensive work with traditional herbal medicine in Guatemala and Honduras. Dr. Williams is a regular contributor to Healthnotes Newswire.
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