Inulin

[maryannie]

Does anyone know much about inulin? I see that Metamucil Clear & Natural has it in and then I also see that Now Vitamins has it and they say it's similar to sugar but low glycemic. It is high and fiber and the Metamucil seems to work very well as a natural source of fiber for laxative.

[not2late]

Re: Inulin

Does anyone know much about inulin? I see that Metamucil Clear & Natural has it in and then I also see that Now Vitamins has it and they say it's similar to sugar but low glycemic. It is high and fiber and the Metamucil seems to work very well as a natural source of fiber for laxative.

Inulin is a naturally occuring sugar that is not absorbed completely by our digestive system. It is not a "bulk forming laxative" like psyllium, bran and flax. So it might not help in terms of relieving constipation. And according to the Metamucil literature, inulin has not been shown to lower cholesterol like psyllium has, at this point. But according to webmd, it does lower cholesterol and helps with constipation. INULIN: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD

Inulin is considered a pre-biotic. That is, it acts like fertilizer for the good bacteria in your gut, helping the good bacteria stay healthy to do its job. Since your good bacteria eats it, it may cause problems like bloating and flatulence when you first use it. But that decreases as your body gets used to it.


I have been using inulin as a pre-biotic for the last 2 years on the advice of my physician. He believed it would alleviate some of my food sensitivity issues---and it has.