Fiber supplements have been around for decades. As society has developed and we have all entered the rat race, one of the first things we forgot about is eating healthy meals. The recommended daily fiber intake for an adult male is 38 grams of fiber, and for a female it is 25 grams of fiber. Fiber is essentially natural material that does not get broken down in our bodies. Whole grains, fruits and legumes are the natural dietary fiber sources. Dietary fiber is defined as fiber found naturally in foods. Functional fiber is a fiber that has been shown to have health benefits in scientific studies. Many studies have been done on different types of fibers. The ideal diet is about two thirds soluble fibers and one third insoluble fibers. Soluble fiber is defined as fiber that can be absorbed in water, whereas insoluble fiber is not absorbed. In addition, different sources of fibers have different properties. Some decrease gastric emptying. Slowing the stomach don allows you to get full faster, a term called early satiety. Other fibers improve laxation. Many have been shown to decrease cholesterol, lower blood sugars and decrease triglycerides - all promoting a much healthier lifestyle. Some of the F-type colon cleansers combine dietary fibers and natural laxatives. Others, like Better Bowel, are designed as a combination of different functional fibers, allowing an individual to obtain their daily fiber requirement without worrying about changing their daily routine. All F-type colon cleansers require significant water intake to allow the fiber to work. In all the studies I have come across, there has never been a study that has had detrimental effects of a high fiber diet. There can be bloating and excessive flatulence when starting an F-type colon cleansing product. This usually normalizes after a few days. Some patients on certain medications need to be careful, as decreasing transit time and laxation can alter the effectiveness of your medicine.
In summary, L-type and E-type colon cleansing are not healthy and are not ideal ways to cleanse your colon. They may help relieve symptoms of constipation, but so will increasing your daily water intake and eating a high fiber diet. F-type colon cleansers have minimal side effects, and are truly the most natural way to maintain colonic health if one cannot do it through eating a well balanced diet.
