Leading a busy lifestyle can result in eating a diet that isn’t as healthy as it should be. It’s much faster to grab fast food rather than prepare a meal with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein. Not to mention, it can be time consuming to start worrying about your fiber intake and how many nutrients you’re consuming. Do you know how much fiber you’re consuming each day?
Eating enough fiber is a good way to ensure that your digestive tract is functioning in a healthy manner so that you aren’t dealing with things like constipation, diarrhea, painful bowel movements or hemorrhoids. Unfortunately, most people aren’t coming close to the daily recommended amount of 25 grams of fiber per day.
Fiber gummy supplements are a great way to increase the amount of fiber that you’re consuming each day. They’re tasty, easy to administer and many supplements provide you with your full fiber intake in one gummy. If you’re concerned with your fiber intake and want to find an easy way to increase your intake amount, let’s take a look at some of the best fiber gummies available on the internet and in your local grocery and health food stores.
Quick Summary of the Top-Rated Fiber Gummies
1st Rated
GOGO Fiber Gummies by OPositiv
OPositiv is a leading gummy supplement brand and their GOGO prebiotic fiber gummies are gaining massive popularity since they launched. This is a no-brainer.
2nd Rated
Yuve Vegan Prebiotic Fiber Gummies
Yuve is a great brand that you can purchase at amazon. Not nearly as good as GOGO, but you may save a little more money going with these vegan prebiotic fiber gummies.
3rd Rated
BeLive Prebiotic Fiber Gummies
BeLive is starting to gain some momentum with their fiber gummy supplement as they use all the necessary ingredients and some people are getting results with them. They are ranked #3 for a reason for us. Again, GOGO is by far the best.
Claimed Benefits of Fiber Gummies
Fiber exists in two different forms, insoluble and soluble. Soluble fiber attracts water from your body and the other foods you’re eating and actually causes your digestive system to slow down so you can absorb sugars more efficiently. It’s found naturally in foods like bran, nuts, seeds, beans and peas. Insoluble fiber boosts the production of beneficial bacteria in your gut and helps you pass food more quickly. Insoluble fiber is found in a variety of vegetables and whole grains. Both of these fiber sources are important.
Fiber gummy supplements taste great, and they can help to keep your gastrointestinal system working properly. In addition to regular bowel movements and a healthy gut, here are some of the other benefits of taking a fiber gummy supplement each day.
Weight Management
While no weight management plan is truly effective without the right diet plan and exercise regimen, fiber gummies can help you maintain a healthy weight by acting as an appetite suppressant. Fiber takes your body a bit of time to digest and process, which leads to you feeling fuller longer. Your body will release glucose at a slower rate, which means that you’ll experience less cravings and hunger.
Soluble fiber provides the best opportunity to lose weight from a supplement of this type. This is the kind of fiber that absorbs the most nutrients and fluid into the body, resulting in a decreased appetite overall. It moves through the body much slower than insoluble fiber, so you won’t feel like you need to eat every couple of hours when you’re consuming enough soluble fiber.
Healthy Digestion
Instead of purchasing laxatives to keep your digestive system flowing at an appropriate rate, you can simply add a fiber supplement to your diet. This is a much healthier and natural option. Waste will be kept flowing through your body without the risk of constipation. Just make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water with your fiber gummies. Otherwise, you can still experience a buildup of waste.
Good Gut Bacteria
Fiber also functions as food for the healthy bacteria in your gut. When you feed these bacteria, you’ll develop a healthier microbiome that can fight off illness and keep your digestive system in good condition. When you lack beneficial bacteria, your gut can start to become very sluggish and unhealthy. This can eliminate your need for a probiotic / prebiotic supplement if you don’t want to take one of those in addition to your fiber supplement.
Bowel Regularity
A diet that is high in fiber or fiber from a supplement will keep your bowel movements regular. In addition to reducing your risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer, fiber actually increases the density and size of your stools while also softening it. Your bowel movements will become more regular with the use of a fiber gummy, but you’ll also have an easier time moving the stool through. Loose stools can also be addressed with the use of fiber gummies. Fiber can potentially make your stools more solid by absorbing more water.
What to Look for in a Fiber Gummy Supplement
If you’re dealing with bowel irregularity or gastrointestinal issues, a fiber supplement can be used to improve the consistency and frequency of your stool. You should ensure you’re choosing a supplement that is supported by high quality ingredients and clinical evidence.
Here are some of the other things you should look for in a fiber gummy supplement:
Fiber Derived from Chicory Root
Chicory root comes from a plant that is part of the dandelion family. It has been used for centuries thanks to its medicinal properties, and it’s often used as a source of fiber in supplements. Chicory root is made up of 68 percent inulin, which is a fibrous substance that your body isn’t capable of digesting. It also acts as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. When you have a healthy number of beneficial bacteria in your gut, this can improve nutrient absorption and boost your immune system.
Reputable Brand
While it would be nice to know that all nutritional supplement brands are reputable, there are certain brands that aren’t as beneficial as others because of low quality ingredients or unnecessary additives. A reputable supplement brand will be very honest about what’s in their products, how their products are made, the testing that is used to ensure quality, etc.
Third-Party Tested
The first thing I do when considering a protein bar option is flip to the back of the bar and check the nutrition label. I look at how many calories it has and how much protein is in it first and foremost. Some bars that are higher in calories will also be higher in protein, which is just fine. However, a bar that’s high in calories but low in protein usually indicates that the fat and carb content is high, so make sure it’s in alignment with your nutrition goals.
Transparent Ingredients
A beneficial fiber gummy should disclose all of the ingredients inside of it. Not only do you want to know what the source of the fiber is, but you should also be aware of any additional nutrients or additives. If you have food allergies or intolerances, it’s even more important to investigate what’s in a fiber supplement. For example, a fiber supplement may contain gluten or be made in a facility where nuts are present. Both of these contaminants are a risk for many people.
Top 4 Best Fiber Gummies (and reasons why we chose them)
Alright, we made it to the good stuff. Below are my top 4 choices for protein bars that can help women with their weight loss and muscle gain goals. I have personal experience with all of these bars and am proud to stand behind each of these selections.
1. GOGO Prebiotic Fiber Gummy by OPositiv
The orange sorbet flavored GOGO Prebiotic Fiber Gummy created by OPositiv is made with plant-based ingredients that will keep your bowel movements regular while promoting optimal digestive health through healthy and safe ingredients. One single dose of GOGO fiber gummies includes over three cups of spinach! This product also helps with weight management and the growth of good bacteria without having to turn to high potency supplements filled with tons of ingredients.
Pros
Cons
2. Yuve Vegan Prebiotic Fiber Gummies
These vegan Prebiotic Fiber Gummies from Yuve contain a healthy indigestible source of fiber that stimulates the growth of probiotics in the gut. Increasing your beneficial gut bacteria can help you improve digestion and increase your metabolism. This is a non-GMO product that is vegan, allergy friendly and safe for kids to take.
Pros
Cons
3. Belive Prebiotic Fiber Gummies
Belive Prebiotic Fiber Gummies are a nice product because they contain a very simple formulation. You get the additional fiber that you need in your daily diet without having to consume all kinds of ingredients and supplements.
Pros
Cons
4. NatureMD Fiber Gummies
These vegan prebiotic fiber gummies by NatureMD are loaded with natural soluble fiber. They are made from chicory root powder that helps support your overall gut health. NatureMD's fiber gummies have shown to help with gas and bloating relief with each dose you take. Different from other fiber gummies, this product contains 5 ultra-powerful digestive enzymes, which helps to keep you regular. By flushing out built up waste material, Vegan Prebotic Gummies can help you lose weight and maintain a healthier weight, while getting the fiber you need.
Pros
Cons
Who Should Take a Fiber Gummy Supplement?
Fiber gummies can be taken by adults and children that deal with chronic GI issues like constipation or diarrhea. They can also benefit people who experience fissures, rectal itching, hemorrhoids or colon problems. Increasing your fiber intake each day can help reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol and diabetes.
If you’re going to be giving your child a fiber supplement to help with their gut health, make sure that you look into the product that you’re choosing to see if it’s recommended for children. A special formulation may be needed for younger children that don’t require as much fiber as an adult.
Potential Side Effects That You Need to Know
As with any supplement, there are some potential side effects of fiber gummies that I need to share with you. While you might be taking a fiber supplement to help ease your constipation, you could actually make your constipation worse if you’re not drinking enough water. Most fiber products recommend that you drink two full glasses of water with each serving.
If you take too high of a dose all at once, this can result in bloating, gas or an upset stomach. If a product says you can work up to three or four gummies per day, don’t start out at that high of a dose. You need to see how your body responds first.
If you’re taking other prescription or over-the-counter supplements, you’ll need to check with your doctor before starting a fiber gummy supplement. Increasing your fiber intake can affect how well your medications are absorbed.
Final Thoughts
You may feel like you’re experiencing a wide range of GI symptoms over the course of a week or month. It’s not uncommon for some people to be constipated one day and then have diarrhea the next. This simply means that you’re not maintaining a regular fiber intake. I noticed a big change when I started paying close attention to how much fiber I was getting each day. Sticking to a routine with your fiber supplement can really make a big impact on how you feel and what your experiences are like in the bathroom.
My Recommendation
Tips for Success from the Nutritionist
If a fiber supplement isn’t for you or you feel as though you’re not ready to start taking one yet, there are some natural ways that you can increase your fiber intake. Plenty of foods contain fiber that will have the same beneficial effect as a supplement, as long as you’re diligent about eating them on a regular basis. Let’s look at some of your options.