Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Acacia confusion!?!? Not so complicated, don't worry!

Hi - I'm really not sure why soluble fiber in the form of a supplement is something you need to adjust to gradually, when soluble fiber in foods doesn't really require this. My guess is just that your gut is dealing differently with something in a concentrated form than it deals with the same element as a component of food. And, as usual, everything is always intensified with IBS. Most "normal" folks don't need to adjust nearly as slowly and gradually to a soluble fiber supplement. They can just jump right in. With IBS though, you're almost always going to be more sensitive in the first place, and have heightened reactions, to anything that affects your gut.

Also - two teaspoons of Acacia is not really a small dose. The stuff is very concentrated - I usually suggest people start with 1/2 level teaspoon, twice daily. You're already at four times that amount. So, you might want to decrease your dose, and then gradually work your way up.

Also - SFS are just as helpful for constipation as for diarrhea (which is why they're usually marketed as laxatives, a la Metamucil and Citrucel). So, don't give up. Constipation usually takes a higher dose to stabilize, so that can mean working up to 3 tablespoons a day of the Acacia. The catch is that it can take several weeks or more than a month to work up to that dose (about 15 grams) since if you jump right into high doses you can get bloating and gas. Slowwww and steaddddy is the way to go - you should see improvements along the way. And, once you're up to a higher daily dose, you'll actually have less gas and bloating because the prebiotic effect of the Acacia will encourage good gut flora.

And welcome!!!

- 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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