Thinking of trying out Metamucil fiber supplements and wondering how well they work? We take a look at these supplements to find out how they function and if they can improve your health.
Metamucil Review: Does It Work?
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When it comes to taking fiber supplements, you want to know that what you’re taking has enough fiber content to improve your digestive health and that it’s actually going to make you feel better.
We’ve been looking at Metamucil fiber supplements, how they work, and what ingredients they contain to help you decide if you should start taking Metamucil daily.
In our Metamucil review, we’ll let you work out whether these fiber supplement products are right for you. To find out more, read the rest of this article.
Summary
- Contains soluble fiber for good digestive health
- Contributes to blood sugar level regulation
- Uses a natural source of psyllium fiber
- Contains artificial sweeteners, which can have side effects
- Contains artificial flavors
- Does not contain adequate fiber for supplementation
- Does not have any benefits for weight loss
Metamucil offers a range of fiber supplement products and is most famous for its powdered supplements. They’re a well-known brand and claim to improve your gut health, remove waste from your body, improve blood sugar levels, and promote heart health.
The major benefits of taking fiber supplements are that they contain fiber to up your daily fiber intake and that they can support other elements of your physical health.
⭐ Rating | 3.6 ★★★ |
✅ Pros | May promote digestive health and lower cholesterol |
❌ Cons | Contains artificial sweeteners and flavors, has some side effects |
🍎 Dosage form | Powder, gummies, capsules, fiber thins |
🔔 Key ingredients | Psyllium husk, maltodextrin, aspartame |
💰 Price | From $15.48 (powder) |
What Is Metamucil Fiber?
Metamucil is a fiber supplement designed to support people in increasing their daily fiber intake and improving their digestive health. It is also thought to support other elements of physical health.
The Metamucil website claims that their supplements can regulate blood sugar levels, promote heart health by lowering cholesterol, and suppress appetite.
There is no evidence to suggest that Metamucil can help you lose weight, though some users take this supplement for that reason.
What Does Metamucil Do?
As a fiber supplement, Metamucil is taken to ensure you get enough fiber each day. The psyllium fiber in Metamucil increases your daily fiber intake.
Getting enough fiber each day has been linked to better digestive health, less bloating, a smaller risk of constipation, and improved health of good gut bacteria.
Metamucil also claims to improve heart health by lowering cholesterol. There is some evidence to suggest that an increase in fiber can help lower cholesterol in the body, but the effect is not great.
Metamucil is also thought to regulate blood sugar spikes after eating a meal. Foods that contain soluble fiber aren’t well absorbed by the body and so do not cause a blood sugar spike after consumption.
How Long Does It Take for Metamucil to Work?
Metamucil is used frequently to relieve constipation for those experiencing symptoms. When taken for this reason, Metamucil is thought to take between 12 and 72 hours to work.
Metamucil can be taken as a dietary supplement and constipation relief. To feel the benefits of Metamucil as a dietary supplement, the website suggests it may take a few weeks and a gradual build-up of supplements to feel the benefits.
Like Metamucil, ColonBroom can be taken as a supplement to improve overall gut health. Primary results from taking this supplement will usually be seen within 24–72 hours.
Is Metamucil a Weight Loss Supplement?
Metamucil is not a weight loss supplement. Though the website claims that Metamucil may have some benefits for those trying to lose weight, it is not actually designed for weight loss.
Taking fiber supplements may support a reduction in body weight, as medical research suggests that there are ways fiber can contribute to weight loss.
Soluble fiber is thought to reduce your appetite, causing you to eat less. This can be useful if you’re trying to eat at a calorie deficit and reduce your caloric intake.
It can also ensure your digestive system is working optimally, making sure your body can get all of the nutrients it needs from the food you eat.
While fiber is part of a balanced diet though, there is some research to suggest that psyllium fiber (the kind found in Metamucil supplements) is not an effective tool for weight loss.
How Does Metamucil Work?
Metamucil works as a fiber supplement. It contains psyllium husk, a well-known form of fiber, which can increase the amount of fiber in your diet.
Each of the Metamucil products, from Metamucil Premium Blend Sugar-Free Powder to the orange-flavored Metamucil Fiber Gummies, is designed to improve digestive health, regulate blood sugar, and promote heart health.
Is Metamucil Safe to Use?
Metamucil is considered a safe supplement to add to your daily routine, and it may have many benefits on your health, including lowering cholesterol and decreasing sugar spikes in blood after meals.
However, there are some concerns about the artificial sweetener and flavoring components of these fiber supplements about their long-term effects on human health.
If you’re looking for a fiber supplement that doesn’t use artificial flavors and sweeteners, ColonBroom may be the best option for you.
Key Ingredients of Metamucil
Below, we have summarized the key ingredients in Metamucil supplements and why they are present in this product.
#1 Psyllium husk
Psyllium husk is the primary source of fiber within these supplements. It is a well-known form of fiber that comes from the seeds of the Plantago ovata.
Psyllium husk has been used in herbal medicine for centuries to relieve constipation, promote regularity, and improve overall digestive health.
#2 Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a powder that is usually made from corn, rice, potato starch, or wheat. It is considered a safe food additive by the FDA and is usually used as a thickener or filler in food products.
#3 Citric acid
Found naturally in citrus fruits, citric acid is what gives citrus fruits their acidic taste; however, it is generally a manufactured form of this acid that is found in supplements.
In supplements, citric acid is typically used to stabilize the active ingredient and sometimes helps the body absorb them better.
There is some evidence that adverse effects may be experienced from the manufactured form of citric acid, but further study is required to confirm this.
#4 Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is used to replace sugar in sugar-free products and supplements. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar.
There is much controversy as to the use of aspartame in products. While the sweetener is approved for use by many health authorities, some research has linked it with negative side effects like headaches, seizures, depression, weight gain, and dizziness.
More research is needed to prove these side effects.
If you are concerned about the use of aspartame in Metamucil products, you could try out ColonBroom instead, which uses stevia, a natural and health-friendly sweetener.
#5 Natural and artificial flavors
Both natural and artificial flavors are used to enhance the flavor of a product. Natural flavors come from natural sources, whereas artificial flavors are manufactured synthetically.
There is some evidence to suggest that artificial flavors can have negative effects on humans, including a worsening of asthmatic symptoms and stomach pains, but more research may be needed to prove this.
Metamucil Side Effects
Metamucil may come with some side effects, especially for new users. Side effects may include changes to your bowel movements and increased bloating as your body gets used to the extra fiber in your diet.
In very rare instances, some dietary supplements may cause allergic reactions. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild, including a rash, itchy eyes, and sneezing, to severe, including difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and confusion.
If you experience any kind of allergic reaction, stop taking it immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
You should also stop taking this supplement if constipation lasts for more than a week or you experience rectal bleeding. You should speak with a doctor if you experience either of these symptoms as both point to more serious problems.
Metamucil Price
The price of the Metamucil range varies depending upon the retailer you purchase it from. The brand is stocked by many stores, including CVS and Walmart, and each retailer prices the supplements as they wish.
Prices appear to range from $15.00 up to $30.00 depending on the store and the product you wish to purchase.
Comparison Table
Contains soluble fiber
Improves cholesterol levels
Use a natural source of psyllium fiber
Easy to take
Organic ingredients
Zero sugar
Natural sweetener (stevia)
Increases metabolism
Promotes skin health
Reduces cravings
Gives you more energy
Uses natural flavors that taste great
Contains artificial sweeteners
Contains artificial flavors
Fiber content may not be adequate for supplementation
May not benefit weight loss
Needs to be taken twice a day
Contains soluble fiber
Improves cholesterol levels
Use a natural source of psyllium fiber
Easy to take
Organic ingredients
Zero sugar
Natural sweetener (stevia)
Increases metabolism
Promotes skin health
Reduces cravings
Gives you more energy
Uses natural flavors that taste great
Contains artificial sweeteners
Contains artificial flavors
Fiber content may not be adequate for supplementation
May not benefit weight loss
Needs to be taken twice a day
Word From Our Dietitian
Taking a fiber supplement can be helpful if you do not get enough fiber from your diet, or if you suffer from a condition like irritable bowel syndrome, which can cause digestive issues and loose stools.
Fiber is an important part of proper nutrition. It keeps the gut and stomach in good health and can also lower cholesterol and manage blood glucose levels.
Eating more fiber may also promote weight loss as it suppresses your appetite and can improve heart health and overall health.
If you are suffering from constipation, you may also benefit from taking a supplement as it can encourage bowel movement.
Fiber supplements can rid your body of waste and make you feel lighter and no longer constipated.
How We Tested
When it comes to our reviews of products, like our Metamucil reviews, we want to ensure we’re recommending only the best products to our readers.
For each product, we take a few factors into account. These factors include ingredients that have been proven by medical research to work, price, and the reputation of the brand. These are the factors we use in our reviews:
Science-backed ingredients
For the Metamucil supplements, we ensured that the main active ingredient, psyllium husk, could work effectively in the body to perform the actions the brand claims it can.
Psyllium husk is a well-known form of fiber that can improve the health of the digestive system and increase your daily intake of fiber.
It is important to us that the products we review do contain ingredients that actually work to do what the label of the product claims.
Price
The Metamucil products are relatively cheap, making them affordable for anyone looking to supplement their fiber intake, though prices vary across the different stockists for these products.
Good health shouldn’t be expensive, which is why Metamucil’s pricing is fair for the product they are offering.
Brand reputation
Brand reputation is important to us. We believe we should only recommend products from brands that we know use safe ingredients and work to the best advantage of their customers.
Metamucil is a household name for fiber supplementation, and the brand has a good reputation across multiple buying channels.
FAQs
Metamucil offers products for fiber supplementation. It can be taken daily as a dietary supplement or to relieve symptoms of constipation or conditions like IBS.
Metamucil can be bought from stores like Walmart and CVS. It can also be found online with retailers like Amazon. It doesn’t look like you can buy products directly from the Metamucil website.
Metamucil is not a laxative. It is a form of dietary supplement that contains fiber to ensure you get enough each day. Medical research shows an increase in fiber can stimulate bowel movements in those who are constipated.
Metamucil is considered a healthy dietary supplement as it increases your intake of fiber. Some caution may be needed when taking sugar-free products that contain aspartame, as this artificial sweetener may have adverse effects.
There is no hard-and-fast rule for when you should take Metamucil, but if you are taking it for constipation, it is recommended you take it in the evening so it can work while you sleep.
Conclusion
Metamucil is a well-known supplement brand that helps its consumers increase their daily intake of fiber. The product may improve gut health, promote heart health, decrease spikes of sugar in the blood, and suppress appetite.
Metamucil is not a weight loss supplement, and evidence suggests it does not promote weight loss. There are also some concerns about some of the artificial ingredients found in these products.
If you’re looking for a way to boost your fiber intake without artificial ingredients, you can check out ColonBroom, a supplement that uses natural ingredients to improve gut health.
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