Which Brand of Fiber Supplement to Use

Updated on February 15, 2010
C.S. asks from Minnetonka, MN
19 answers

My daughter's pediatritian recommended I give her metumucil, benefiber or citracal. She is nine, so I would love one that tasted good or didn't have any taste at all. I don't want to buy a big bottle and have her turn her nose up. She already eats healthy and we have tried a few different things. I just don't have experience with these things.

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Just a suggestion... if this is for regularity maybe instead of a supplement you could offer dried fruit (prunes, dried berries, cherries...) - maybe ask you pedi if that is an option if she won't take to the supplements.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

My daughter has used benefiber or the generic target brand when needed. It is colorless and tasteless so can be put in just about everything. We tried prune juice but she wouldn't drink it so we found plum smart which tastes like plums or almost like grape juice and comes in a light version too. She also likes lots of fruits so that helps.

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T.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'd be more interested in addressing the cause of the constipation rather than only treating the symptom. Constipation in "healthy" kids that age are usually a combination of two causes. First is diet and the second is the balance of flora in the gut. If this were my own child, I would correct the balance of flora with a high quality probiotic. Look for one with mulitple strains and with at least 10 billion living organisms. You can buy one at Lakewinds Co-op off of Excelsior Blvd and HWY 101.

I'm a nurse and a therapeutic lifestyle educator in Eden Prairie. I work in nutrition and lifestyle medicine but more importantly, I'm a mother of three so LOL, I've clocked 17 years in poop! I can help you with a diet to combat constipation as well. Private message me if you would like some advice on diet.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

I have used the metamucil flavor free kind and like it. I think it's called clear and natural or something like that. I usually put in coffee, but I have tried it in juice and have never tasted it.

Updated

I have used the metamucil flavor free kind and like it. I think it's called clear and natural or something like that. I usually put in coffee, but I have tried it in juice and have never tasted it.

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

Arbonne fiber booster is great. It is made with only natural ingredients. I have tried other fiber and it makes me have terrible pains and cramping also bloating. If you would like more info please reply to me in private message. It is tasteless and it isn't gritty like the others. It can be added to any food or drinks, I give it to my husband in his hot chocolate and he doesn't know it is there.
Kay

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A.C.

answers from Madison on

My daughter, who will be 10 in April, uses Benefiber. She drinks it in ice water. She's had no problems taking it.

As someone else said, adding premium ground flax seeds to something like oatmeal or other hot breadfast cereal will also help her get extra fiber. It can also be sprinkled on top of a lettuce salad. It has a slightly nutty flavor, but I love it on top of a salad.

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J.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

Benefiber is clear and tasteless. It can be put in drinks or even things like yogurt or soup. My son and I both struggle with regularity and both of our doctors have recommended Miralax and it works wonders for us both. My son, 7, takes 1/2 capful everyday and I use a 3/4 capful everyday. This has been a real saving grace in our house!

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P.G.

answers from Des Moines on

My granddaughters fixes are Fiber One yogurt (luckily, she prefers yogurt to ice cream) and maraschino cherries. Can't explain the cherries and it doesn't take too many. Always get a poop!

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S.L.

answers from Dallas on

If you can see if you can get her to eat prunes or drink prune juice. My 7 yr old drank prune juice when he was younger and liked it and it worked well for constipation. If you do have to go with a supplement, I definitely recommend Benefiber. It dissolves completely in liquid, has no taste and is not grainy. She probably wouldn't even know it was in her drink.

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E.I.

answers from Duluth on

this might be covered (you did say you ahve tried a few different things) but have you tried milled flax seed?

good luck with things.

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I use the new Benefiber (sp?) that melts in hot water. It works really well and it has NO flavor at all - which is nice. it says you can put it in yogurt - but I have never tried it and I noticed that it clumps a bit in cold liquids (although it claims no to).

If you don't want to go the powder route I've also tried the Metumucil apple cinnamon wafers.. they're delicious and she would only need to eat them w/ a glass of water. Good luck!

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

My aunt frowned at the metumucil. Have you tried prunes? My daughter had some troubles and she ate prunes and that got her regular until her body knew what to do.

I was warned not to keep her on them forever because the body had to do it's own job. Now she loves prunes and only has one for a snack here and there.

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

my husband and I use benefiber, which we just mix in our regular drinks at dinner, it doesnt add any taste to it. My grandma uses metumucil, and makes horrible faces while she does it, so I wouldnt give that to her. :-)

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Melaleuca makes fiber bars and fiber supplements. Check out www.melaleuca.com Let me know if you would like to try these before registering as a member.

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R.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

Benefiber...no taste to it. Just sprinkle on her food or in her drink and she won't she's taking it......

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B.J.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi C.
My daughter needed fiber too-- at a much younger age.
I work with some products that has a complex fiber powder that is dissolves in liquid. It comes unflavored and in apple flavor.
Did you pediatrician want soluble or insoluble fibers?-- this has both.
Anyway-- if you want to know more, you can email me with mom source in the subject line at ____@____.com
With mom source discount it runs shipped around $26 with a $ back guarantee.
I live in New Brighton and work at the VA- so in your area if you'd want to meet up first.
Happy Valentines Day!!

About me: 49 yo perfusionist, wellness coach also doing a nationwide online biggest loser for $$, wife, mom with 8 yo twin girls.

B. J

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T.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Something that I've found helpful in regularity is Acai. You can get it in juice form at the grocery store (usually in the refrigerated section) I found that especially the first time you drink it, it really cleans the system out, makes you feel so much better for a while. Since it's a juice I'm sure it would be a good thing for a child too, probably better than a boxed supplement.

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C.D.

answers from Omaha on

Sounds like your daughter has a constipation problem like my son did at that age. Have no clue why they go thru stages like this. I had my son on metumucil and it worked well and he didn't mind the taste. There are a variety of no taste products out on the market. The major thing is the amount they have to drink in order to fulfill the recommendations. There is also fiber tablets that you can get, they don't taste that bad but you have to eat 3-4 of them at a time. Look at all the options, take her with you and have her help in the selection.

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D.R.

answers from Houston on

Fiberwise from Melaleuca is the best one.

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