Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

[Greeneggs&ham]

So I've been checking my goals on FitDay over the past few days and seeing that I'm not getting in my recommended 30 grams a day. Although several days I am neglecting my 3 cups of vegetables, I would be curious to see just how many ways one can get 30 grams of fiber out of a diet that proscribes only 5% of your calories coming from carbs?

Anyway, I figured that for now I would supplement my daily food intake with CVC's "el cheapo" version of Metamucil capsules. The bottle recommends 5 tablets at a time up to 3X per day. Based on the supplied info, 15 capsules provides a paltry 7 grams of fiber!

I always thought fiber supplements would basically give you your complete fiber needs for the day. Even with a supplement I'm still needing lots of veggies to flush all those fats and proteins from my intestines! What's a superhero's sidekick to do?!

[Mom2Mayhem]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

I take generic brand of Metamucil that I get from Costco. It works great, and it is just a supplement not a replacement. I would not do this WOE without it.

[Chicklady]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

I don't know if it's humanly possible on induction to get 25, but certainly thereafter.
Flaxseed, , libby's pumpkin, jicama, various nuts, raspberries.....all depending where you are on the Atkins ladder....good sources of fiber.

[losetocruise]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

one muffin in a minute in 9.5 grams of fiber. I eat one or two of those a day plus I will only eat the vegetables that are higher in fiber. If you don't like the muffins, a tablespoon of flaxseed meal can be added to a lot of things pretty unnoticably. And a few nuts now and then. My rule is if carb goes in my mouth, it has to be high in fiber LOL.

[Kansas Deb]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

Here is an interesting piece by Dr. Michael Eades
A cautionary tale of mucus fore and aft

[Chicklady]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

Here is an interesting piece by Dr. Michael Eades
A cautionary tale of mucus fore and aft

I just read this, and the comments with his coresponding notes and I've gotta say---I think he;s wrong!! And when I'm eating a proper Atkins diet, I get as much as 40 grams a day. There is no way I'll believe the 9 grams of fiber in my raspberries is hurting my cells.

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

I'm still searching for the Muffin in a Minute recipe.

I also just finished reading Dr. Eades article which was certainly interesting. I can tell you that I won't be trying to hack up my lungs, and have no intentions of picking up smoking!

As far as his take on fiber goes, I would agree that we shouldn't need to take supplements any more than a wild animal does. However, since we are skipping over certain food groups (unlike that animal) it seems like we would need to replace the missing "nutrients" in the same way that we take a daily vitamin. No?

As to whether a daily BM is necessary or just the product of society, I am not necessarily looking for a daily movement, or even a movement that shakes the walls! I just find it unsettling that I can eat all this meat for 10 days and have nothing but a handful of rabbit pellets to show for it.

I'll continue to look for healthy, whole-food ways to get my fiber, although perhaps I won't put a number on it. I think his response to one of the comments is best: "I guess it’s a case of different strokes for different folks. Or maybe different poops for different groups."

Thanks for sharing the link. It was certainly informative. Perhaps it will just take me a while to overcome this brainwashing I've received from modern society!

[Chicklady]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

It may well be brainwashing, but my bowels seem to have been affected too! I need my veggies every day, lest when someone says "you're full of ***" they'll be right

[chinadoll]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

KansasDeb, while I agree with the fact that modern medicine "overfixes" us, the good doctor misses a big point. For thousands of years humans ate relatively unprocessed foods that automatically gave us the bulk and fiber in our diets. Our bodies were originally attuned to this diet and the combination of body systems and diet complimented each other. But, in just the last 200 years our diets have changed drastically to overprocessed foods that have eliminated a lot of the fiber from our diets. Not all of us, mind you, but a large chunk of America for sure. Those of us here are eating our veggies (and eventually fruits) but a lot of people live on the junky diet available through fast foods and our supermarket shelves. So, given the poor quality of food being consumed by many, there is a purpose for fiber as a supplement.

Regarding his notes on irritating the lining, etc. well, building muscle involves irritating and tearing muscle fibers to rebuild them stronger. Does that mean the Dr. thinks building muscle is bad too?

I am not anti-Dr. Eades, I just think that any "medical opinion" that takes a single narrow view is suspect. There are always two ways of looking at anything.

As for the fiber, if I took 15 metamucils a day I would never leave the bathroom.LOL

I take 2-3 a day--not to keep me on any kind of schedule, but more for the softening effect needed on this woe in the early rungs. I view it as a supplement, not a replacement.

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

I just think that any "medical opinion" that takes a single narrow view is suspect.

With that kind of attitude, how did you ever come around to this WOE?

Just kidding around -- I do agree with your post. If we decide that we aren't going to take the supplement for fiber, than it seems almost hypocritical to take a supplement for vitamins and minerals too. Until I can get to the maintenance level (where I hope I will be eating a more balanced menu of all whole foods), I am OK with supplementing for the stuff I am missing out on to re-balance my system.

Thanks for the open and honest discussion on both sides of the issue!

[losetocruise]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

I'm still searching for the Muffin in a Minute recipe.

Here you are!:



This was from the other board. This is especially good to get things moving again, if you know what I mean! Also very easy to do. I tried it this morning and it does work. I would spray the coffee cup with Pam first so that the muffin doesn't stick and probably add another packet of Splenda. Since it says that it nets 1.5 carbs and has 11g of carbs, I went ahead and also put in 9.5g of fiber in my calorie counter program.

Muffin in a Minute

Serving Size: 1

1/4 cup flax meal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 packet splenda packet
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 large egg
1 teaspoon butter

Put the dry ingredients in a coffee mug. Or a bowl for a different shape.

Stir.

Then add the egg and the butter. Mix.

Microwave 1 minute (or more). Take out. slice, butter, eat. Set mug to soak immediately.

Cream cheese would go nicely, too.

Notes: 1.5 net carbs.

Per serving: 235 Calories; 18g Fat (63% calories from fat); 12g Protein; 11g Carbohydrate; 223mg Cholesterol; 284mg Sodium

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

Thanks!

[Chicklady]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

Chinadoll....Dr eades does cover the muscle tearing bit in the comment/response area below his article......a difference in procedure between muscle tissue which tears and rebuilds itself better than before, and the membrane that produces the mucus dying and being replaced, not rebuilt.
At any rate, i do agree with your assessment of how we were developed/evolved to eat, and yep, high fiber food is definitely part of that. I would think a Paleo diet was even higher than 25-30 grams a day, because they hadn't "improved" fruits and vegetables" to increase sugar......

[chinadoll]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

Thanks, Chicklady, I will go back and reread it. I missed that part the first time.

[chinadoll]

Re: Holy Psyllium Husks Batman!

Eric,

I had a good, forward thinking physician. And I did Atkins the first time in the 70s as a teen--before I became so cynical.