Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Heather's Acacia Fiber

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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