Benefiber, does your body actually use it like fiber from foods or is it a waste of money?

I'm not getting enough fiber for my track system and I don't have the calories to spare on extra fruits and vegetables without taking away from protein, etc.

How can you not have calories to spend on vegetables?  Most of them have almost negligible calories, and having 100 cals/day less deficit but getting fibre from real foods would be far better than taking a supplement like Benefibre.

i use benefibre now and then although I don't really feel as tho it makes a difference..

You could try psyllium husk... i add it to my protein smoothies for fibre and thickness.. it is also cheaper and more natural i guess if u cant fit the veggies in

Original Post by susiecue:

How can you not have calories to spend on vegetables?  Most of them have almost negligible calories, and having 100 cals/day less deficit but getting fibre from real foods would be far better than taking a supplement like Benefibre.

^^^ Ditto.

You can have a huge cup of broccoli for about 30cal and that would give you 2.3 grams of fibre. A bowl of fibreone is 60 cal and gets you 14grams. Explain how even if you can't do the fibreone... you can't toss in some veggies to boost your fibre?

I think fruits and vegetables should be a priority - a low fibre intake is a sign you diet isn't balanced, not just a symptom to fix with a pill. Most fibre supplements contain soluble fibre, but fruit and vegetables contain both soluble and insoluble fibre; as well as a tonne of nutrients and other goodies that you simply won't get from a supplement.

Okay people, you don't have to hassle me about my food choices. I was asking about benefiber. I get 4 servings of fruit and vegetables, and I'm not putting more in to take away from my other food categories. I'm not a health nut, just looking to improve. Key word being improve! Didn't anyone ever hear of baby steps. I went from eating junk food with no fibre, to gettting 20 grams of fibre a day... now, I infact think that's pretty good. I would just like to add more fibre, and was wondering if benefibre does the same thing as food fibre.

Are you constipated?....   If your digestion is working normally on 4 servings of fruit and veg and you're not constipated then there's no need to take fibre supplements and it would be a waste of money.  If you're constipated then listen to the others, add a few more fibrous foods to your day and increase your fluid intake before you take fibre supplements.

BTW... fibrous foods also include things like canned baked beans, wholegrain bread/pasta, oatmeal.  If you leave the skins on potatoes when you cook them that's also good fibre.    Baby steps.

Xlovelyx..

I tried Benefiber and didn't care for it.  I prefer Fiber Con.  Doctor recommended the fiber supplements because of my slowed digestive system.  On top of the Fiber Con I eat 30 grams of fiber/day.  Recently I added Fiber One yogurts... they're actually pretty good and only have 50 calories :)
Good Luck!

I just started taking Benefiber recently, just to keep things "flowing," if ya know what I mean :) I wasn't having any real issues before, but I do feel like I an perhaps a little more regular now? It says you can take it up to 3 times a day, but I usually put it in my morning smoothie, and occasionally another serving in the evening, but that's it. The one I got is the "Heart Health" one, and it's got other vitamins and stuff in it too. Can't hurt I guess, right??

Original Post by xlovelyx:

Okay people, you don't have to hassle me about my food choices. I was asking about benefiber. I get 4 servings of fruit and vegetables, and I'm not putting more in to take away from my other food categories. I'm not a health nut, just looking to improve. Key word being improve! Didn't anyone ever hear of baby steps. I went from eating junk food with no fibre, to gettting 20 grams of fibre a day... now, I infact think that's pretty good. I would just like to add more fibre, and was wondering if benefibre does the same thing as food fibre.

I'm sorry you felt jumped on.  That wasn't my point.  My point was that you don't have to take away from your other food categories because veggies are so low calorie that you could add them in (and *not* take anything away) and have your calorie total be almost exactly the same.

And I agree that baby steps are good.  I think it's great that you're cleaning up your diet and already at 20 g fibre/day.