Fiber-sure is a clear-mixing fiber supplement made by the makers of Metamucil. You can use it while baking and cooking because it is grit-free and non-thickening. This product is an excellent way to add fiber to your diet.
I originally tried Fiber-sure because I needed more fiber in my diet. I am a Type-2 diabetic and the more fiber I consume, the more carbohydrates I am allowed. Fiber-sure seemed like the perfect way to be able to eat more of the foods I enjoy without causing my blood glucose reading to be too high. In the time I have been using this product, my blood glucose levels have dropped by approximately 10 points. In this same amount of time, I have been able to consume more carbohydrates, or sugars, which has helped me stay within the diet guidelines provided by a diabetes educator.
I have added Fiber-sure to sugar-free gelatin, milk, vegetable medleys, applesauce, cereal, and rice dishes. From these experiences, I can say that the claims that it is grit-free are genuine. However, I have noticed a slightly sweet taste when I added it to milk and to applesauce. So, the claim that the product is flavor-free is not always true. Luckily, the taste is pleasant. Also, when I added Fiber-sure to milk, I noticed a bit of thickening. I did not notice thickening when I used the product with anything else.
Fiber-sure adds 25 calories per heaping teaspoonful, or 5.8 grams. It contains 6 total carbohydrates with 5 of those coming from soluble dietary fiber. The daily recommended usage is 1 heaping teaspoon up to 3 times a day for adults 12 years and older, half of the adult serving up to 3 times a day for children 6-11 years of age, and for children under 6 years of age a physician should be consulted. Consuming this amount of Fiber-sure daily will give you approximately 20% of your body’s daily requirements. Most Americans get only half of the fiber their bodies need.
The type of fiber contained in Fiber-sure is called Inulin. This fiber comes from plants and is 100% natural. It is found in more than 30,000 plants, including many fruits and vegetables. Like other fibers, Inulin makes a person feel as if their stomach is full like a food high in starch but does not affect blood sugar levels in a comparable way.
In addition to helping with the control of carbohydrate absorption, Inulin has several other benefits. It is thought this type of fiber may help to increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium. It may also improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract and fat metabolism. Lower cholesterol levels are another possible benefit from ingesting this plant fiber. It is even thought to help protect against some infectious bowel diseases and colorectal cancer. For Type-2 diabetics Inulin may lower the fasting blood glucose readings.
Fiber-sure can be found at many stores. I found it at Wal-Mart. It was around $7 for a container of 7 ounces. This might seem slightly high for a fiber supplement. But, when you weigh the benefits against the price, you still come out ahead. I would recommend Fiber-sure to everyone. It is an easy way to acquire the many benefits of fiber without the gritty texture of most supplements of this type.
REFERENCES
Mark Anthony, “Inulin: The ‘In’ Fiber”, URL: (http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2005/272.html)
Karen Rysavy, ” What is inulin? Fiber!”, URL: (http://sheknows.com/about/look/7207.htm)
