can we talk *fiber* meds -- on a budget?

[mafibisha]

Since the holidays, and maybe because I recently turned 40 I think I need to increase my fiber intake

Yes I know to increase fiber rich foods, but what kind do you use when you occasionally need an assist?

Both my mom and MIL were told by their doctors to take Citrucel tablets daily(because its the most natural) but its expensive! I'm always on the lookout for deals for them, and hoping there are other choices out there that are cheaper but will still work?

 

[minnie1928]

If you can eat oatmeal, I recommend Quaker's High Fiber Oatmeal. I get 40% of my fiber intake from 1 packet. It's 10 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of soluble fiber and only 160 calories. One for breakfast is plenty and it works as a snack in the afternoon or evenings too. Works out to be about $.38/per packet.

I do this because I sometime have trouble swallowing the pills, that and I usually forget to take them.

 

[Eeyore1928]

My DH has diverticulitus and this cereal provides more fiber than those pills....and actually tastes good! There are coupons all the time!

 

[malibuconlee]

Bump up your veggie intake. Also SuperTarget has these Dark Chocolate Fiber Bars that are awesome!

 

[pearlieq]

The Fiber One "granola" type bars taste waaaaay better than anything with that much fiber has the right to taste! The chocolate chip and raspberry almond are my favorites, DH loves the peanut butter.

One of those a day is cheaper, more pleasant, and has more fiber than one of those supplements. Costco and Sam's have big boxes that are very cost-effective.

 

[shoes99]

I use Metamucil Coarse Milled. I buy it at drugstore.com and it works for me.

 

[smokeyblue]

I work on a Surgical Unit and if only everyone got the fiber they needed! I can't believe the number of young people (late 30's-65, yes this is young!) that come in with bowel obstructions. Bowel obstructions are 25% of our emergency admissions!

Cereals are one of the best ways to get it. If you don't like the taste you can just mix a serving of bran buds in with your regular cereal.

 

[Pakey]

I do oatmeal with added flax seed. It works better than all of the fiber additives I tried.

 

[ssawka]

I was put on a high fiber diet a few years ago because I don't eat enough fruits & vegetables. Anyway, I try to target 25g a day, so here's what I use:

• Small muffins from Trader Joe's. They are really small, but are only 85 calories and pack 13g of fiber.
• Cereals. They don't have to be "fiber cereals". Mini-Wheats and Rasin Bran pack a pretty good amount of fiber and are much cheaper than the "fiber" cereals (unless you go to Trader Joe's).
• Quaker Oats High Fiber Oatmeal
• Fiber bars (I prefer Kellog's FiberPlus over Fiber One, because Fiber One is too chewy for my teeth)

There are so many options for high fiber now that you really don't need the supplements. Just replace the things you already eat with high fiber version. It will be much cheaper and you get more "bang for the buck" with the fiber enhanced foods.

 

[Gigi22]

May I also suggest that you switch from white bread to brown/whole wheat bread? There are nutritional indications on commercial bread labels as to how many grams of fibre are provided--select a bread with one of the highest levels of fibre. If you like fruits, eat an apple and a banana daily. All this will help!

 

[ceecee]

Add fiber slowly to your diet, not all at once. I make Oat Bran muffins (supposed to lower cholestrol..it doesn't!) and Fiber One cereal add raisins and it's okay.

 

[mafibisha]

OP here.
Thanks for all the ideas! I'll give them a try!

 

[momrek06]

I was put on a high fiber diet a few years ago because I don't eat enough fruits & vegetables. Anyway, I try to target 25g a day, so here's what I use:

• Small muffins from Trader Joe's. They are really small, but are only 85 calories and pack 13g of fiber.
• Cereals. They don't have to be "fiber cereals". Mini-Wheats and Rasin Bran pack a pretty good amount of fiber and are much cheaper than the "fiber" cereals (unless you go to Trader Joe's).
• Quaker Oats High Fiber Oatmeal
• Fiber bars (I prefer Kellog's FiberPlus over Fiber One, because Fiber One is too chewy for my teeth)

There are so many options for high fiber now that you really don't need the supplements. Just replace the things you already eat with high fiber version. It will be much cheaper and you get more "bang for the buck" with the fiber enhanced foods.

Ohhh, these look perfect for me. Can you tell me the name of them. TJ's is right down the street from me. Going shopping tomorrow and I will stop in! Thanks.

 

[PattySwind]

wa1greens has Fiberone cereal on sale for $1.99. Sale ends on Friday

 

[fkj2]

Make sure, too, that you're drinking enough water.

 

[Shelli_5]

If you've increased the fiber in your diet and are still occasionally having trouble with constipation, I would suggest taking docusate rather than a fiber pill or drink. It's pretty inexpensive, has very few side effects, and works well in most situations.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000100

(I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist, but I play one on the internet. LOL)

Shelli

 

[rluey29]

You could always just buy Psyllium Husk. Its in pill form at Walmart with the other fiber meds. I believe it's called Fiber Therapy. It's the Equate version and only about $3 for the bottle. Dr Oz recommended it on one of his shows and I've used it since. Helps every time...

 

[shortbun]

Fruit fiber is the best kind of fiber you can take. Eat grapes. I freeze them. They have amazing fiber content. Apples and ripe bananas are good too but grapes are best. Then, raisins on your cereal really bumps it up. Warning, gradually increase your fiber. If you amp it up all in one day, you will create a problem similar to what you already had. I'd increase by 5grams a day for a week until I got to 25-30 grams. Fruit and veggie fiber is preferrable and water soluable. The cereal has non water solouable fiber, some of that is ok but get your healthier fiber-fruit.

 

[hambirg]

You could always just buy Psyllium Husk. Its in pill form at Walmart with the other fiber meds. I believe it's called Fiber Therapy. It's the Equate version and only about $3 for the bottle. Dr Oz recommended it on one of his shows and I've used it since. Helps every time...

I was going to recommend psyllium. A ND that I went to had me take psyllium and pectin. They are both relatively cheap. I used powdered form of both and added it to smoothies, but it does coagulate pretty fast. The pills from Walmart sound ideal.

 

[Maddie2]

My sister had this problem and now eats prunes! Yes, really. She's off the over-the-counter meds (which didn't always work anyway) and now she eats 4-5 prunes every night. I'm not sure what it is, but I know there is a certain brand that she really likes. Eating prunes also increased her potassium intake.