Harry

Yogurt with L. Acidophilus helps re-establish or keeps in balance your good intestinal bacteria(Flora).

Water soluble fiber absorbs water--makes your colon expand and function properly. Your Gastro Intestinal tract NEEDS FIBER to operate!!! A normal person really needs a combination of both soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber works to control constipation just as well as diarrhea. Insoluble fiber has a tendency to give me diarrhea--- things such as nuts, wheat bran, cauliflower. Psyllium seed husk that is the active ingredient in Metamucil, Konsyl, Equate(Wal Mart brand) and others--- is water soluble. Just make sure you drink enough water when taking it. It is a natural fiber so it does breakdown by intestinal bacteria, ferments and causes some gas when you first start using it. But --that soon goes away with continued use for most people.

All meat, seafood and dairy products contain NO Fiber.

Insoluble fiber makes your intestines contact to move digested food along and out. All fruit and veggies are insoluble. Also, nuts, seeds, the outer parts of grains, beans and peas.
Soluble fiber that absorbs fluids and bulks up your stool is all the root veggies--- like potatoes , sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, and Inulin that is chicory root. Also the inner part of all grains, beans and peas. The water solublble fiber supplements like psyllium, Citrucel, Benifiber, Fiber Choice.

Fibercon is considered an insoluble fiber.




[This message has been edited by Harry (edited 04-30-2002).]