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Again, Michelle, good advice. And about the acacia -- you're right on! It dissolves instantly in hot water, then I stick my tea bag in -- what could be easier?! AND there's no taste to the acacia. I like it a lot. More importantly, IT'S WORKING . . . . 
Can you tell me more about this. Are you making your
tea with the acacia? I thought I had to drink it
all down in one quick gulp. I have another question
too if anyone knows. If I drink my acacia in the morning
and then I have an attack of D later can I take it again
and if yes then how long do I have to wait in between
doses?
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A Safe Place
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Yes, Val, I dissolve my acacia in my favorite tea, which I drink in the morning and late afternoon. I never heard that I had to gulp it down; frankly, I don't think I could do that because the tea is too hot.
I don't have an answer to your last question; perhaps someone else here will. However, I had an "attack" a few days ago, yet I still took the acacia with my usual tea, and actually felt better afterwards.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Hi - Normally, Acacia dissolves best in cold or lukewarm water. I'm surprised that someone is making it with boiling hot water, because when I do that it takes a while to dissolve (and I'm impatient). Instead, I just dissolve my Acacia dose with a small amount of cold water first (doesn't take much) and then I add boiling water to fill the cup, then brew my tea in it.
You do not have to drink Acacia in one gulp. It will not thicken or gel the way Metamucil and psyllium do. You can actually let it stand for hours and it still won't gel. It's not gritty - it just dissolves into nothing, and it's totally tasteless. That's why you can easily add it to tea, smoothies, or even sprinkle it on moist foods like hot cereal, rice, or pasta.
You can take the Acacia in as many divided doses throughout the day as you like, and you don't have to wait if you're having diarrhea. You wouldn't want to wait, actually, as Acacia (like all soluble fibers) will help resolve the diarrhea. Same thing for constipation - it simply normalizes gut contractions and bowel water content, which means it normalizes bowel movements from either extreme.
You could take up to 15 grams of the Acacia per day - that's about 3 Tablespoons. If you wanted you could take that all in one dose - but that's a LOT of fiber if your gut isn't used to it. It's a much better idea to take those 15 grams in three different doses, throughout the day. You'd also want to gradually work up to that dosage level. You'll start at 1 level teaspoon (and that's a measuring/baking teaspoon - not a teaspoon that you'd eat with) twice day - that's only about 1 1/2 grams of fiber per dose. You want to slowly adjust to the fiber and not shock your gut with a sudden huge dose.
If you're already used to taking a soluble fiber supplement, you can start the Acacia at a higher dose. It doesn't really matter what time of day you take the dose. Before meals is good because it gives you a "buffer" for the food, and first thing in the morning/last thing at night is good because it will keep your gut filled with soluble fiber instead of becoming too empty.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Dissolving It
#35674 - 01/07/04 10:37 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Heather, you're right about the acacia not dissolving in hot water -- IF you put the acacia in your cup after the hot water. I found, though, that if I put the acacia in my cup first and then pour the hot water on top of the acacia, it dissolves instantly -- I don't even need a spoon to stir it!
Maybe my acacia is magic -- I know it's doing other WONDERS for me! 
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Oh No, WAIT!
#35756 - 01/07/04 04:14 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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I just figured out why. Heather, I only use 1 teaspoon per cup (I'm just starting out). I don't know how well a huge tablespoon (let alone TWO) would dissolve that way.
Let us know -- now I'm curious. Maybe I do a "test run."
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Thank you so much Heather. I've been taking Acacia
like it was metamucil and gulping it down like that
can bother my tummy ( I think it's all that water at
once) any way how great I can have a smoothie instead
or mix it with my food.
I'm glad to know I can take it if I get an attack and
I don't have to wait. Thank you so much I very grateful!
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Quote:
Yes, Val, I dissolve my acacia in my favorite tea, which I drink in the morning and late afternoon. I never heard that I had to gulp it down; frankly, I don't think I could do that because the tea is too hot.
I don't have an answer to your last question; perhaps someone else here will. However, I had an "attack" a few days ago, yet I still took the acacia with my usual tea, and actually felt better afterwards.
I guess I just thought that was how I was suppossed to
do it because thats how I had always done metamucil and
stuff like that. I don't remember reading instructions
on how to mix it or what I could mix it with on the package,
but I may have just missed it. I'm so happy to find
out this information it's going to be much better now,
especially since I have a cup of tea every night before bed.
I had an attack a couple days ago too and I drank the
acacia and everything calmed down. Thats what prompted
me to ask the question to Heather about how often I
could take it. How comforting to know I can take it
whenever I need it up to a point of course.
Thanks Bevrs!
val....
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Heather - I ordered your Acacia fiber. I put 1 tablespoon into cranberry juice, and watched as it formed little white chunks, with most of the fiber sinking to the bottom of the glass. I stirred. And stirred. And stirred. Finally got tired of it and drank it the way it was. I mastered the tea ball finally,  but now need to figure out what I'm doing wrong with the acacia. 
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Hi there - Well, make sure your dose is only 1 level measuring tablespoon at most. I just posted a bunch of info in another thread about Acacia dosages. 1 T at once would be the max - you'll probably want to work up to that, and start out with 1 level teaspoon at first instead. You'd also need a good-sized glass of liquid for that 1 T, as it's over 4 grams of soluble fiber.
The acidity of the juice may be affecting the way the Acacia dissolves. I haven't actually tried the stuff in cranberry juice myself. Try dissolving it in plain cold water instead. You can also dissolve it in just enough water to liquify the Acacia, then add your cranberry juice to the glass. I also stir it with a fork - let it sit for about 30 seconds, then stir it again. That gives it a chance to really dissolve. The stuff won't thicken or gel in the glass so you don't have to rush to stir and then drink it.
Let me know what happens. 
- H
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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