Additional Fiber Options?

[Melissa Layer]

Hello!  My husband and I are starting Whole 30 today.  He has been using various fiber supplements for over 20 years (the latest being "Benefiber") due to a very sluggish bowel.  We have always eaten lots of fruits/veggies/good fats - but that's never been enough for him.  He doesn't want to go the laxative route (not even natural Senokot).  His cardiologist does not want him to take extra magnesium either (which we know can have a laxative effect).  We see that Benefiber is not Whole 30 compliant.  We are wondering if there is another natural fiber supplement he can utilize - such as psyllium husk powder?  I am hopeful that the Whole 30 may reveal that his longstanding problem is related to a hidden food allergy, but he is going to need some extra help along the way!  (Interestingly, he was raised on a farm and never had any challenges with his bowels when he consumed raw cow's milk!).  Thank You!

[SugarcubeOD]

Has he ever tried Flax?  Ground flax is a very good bowel mover... psyliium husk would work too... That's too bad that the cardiologist doesn't want him taking magnesium... is there a chance to talk to him and find out why?  Most everyone in Canada/US is magnesium deficient due to current farming practices depleting the soil so 'extra' magnesium is actually 'any' magnesium... Or is he already taking a supplement of it and the cardio doesn't want him to increase it?  if that's the case and he's already on a calmag of some sort, he might want to switch to the magnesium citrate for the 30 days and see if that helps... 

 

According to the Benefibre website, the only ingredient in it is Inulin and according to this Whole30 document, Inulin is allowed... what is in his that would make it non compliant and can he go find a benefibre that is just the inulin?

 

http://whole30.com/downloads/additives.pdf

[Melissa Layer]

Thanks so much!  I can tell I need to get better about actually visiting a product's website in search of ingredients that may not be listed on a label!  When my husband asked me if he could continue to use the Benefiber, I googled it as a Whole 30 question.  Someone else had inquired about Benefiber and the response was that it was not compliant.  I'm looking at the label now and it says "Ingredient:  Wheat dextrin; Gluten-Free (less than 20 ppm gluten)."  Hmmmm... that seems confusing!  "Gluten-Free", but then what is "wheat dextrin?"

 

I hadn't thought of flax... good idea!  And yes, he is already taking a cal-mag supplement and the cardio didn't want him taking a side dose of just magnesium.

[ShannonM816]

Thanks so much!  I can tell I need to get better about actually visiting a product's website in search of ingredients that may not be listed on a label!  When my husband asked me if he could continue to use the Benefiber, I googled it as a Whole 30 question.  Someone else had inquired about Benefiber and the response was that it was not compliant.  I'm looking at the label now and it says "Ingredient:  Wheat dextrin; Gluten-Free (less than 20 ppm gluten)."  Hmmmm... that seems confusing!  "Gluten-Free", but then what is "wheat dextrin?"

 

I hadn't thought of flax... good idea!  And yes, he is already taking a cal-mag supplement and the cardio didn't want him taking a side dose of just magnesium.

 

Wheat dextrin would not be okay. I think there's a difference in Canadian and US versions of this, which is why SugarcubeOD found one that's all inulin. 

 

I think the different brands of fiber use different fibers, so you could Google (or just go to the store and read labels) the different brands available and see if any others look compliant, if you want a supplement rather than the flaxseed. Or if the flaxseed causes any problems for him and he needs to try something different in the future.