Diverticulosis is a common bowel condition that is most common in the over 60 population. Albeit benign, this condition can come with unpleasant symptoms such as constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
After a diagnoses, a patient is usually advised to eat more fiber, which means vegetables, fruits, beans, and grains. While these foods are great for your overall health and diverticulosis, there is an easier way to get enough fiber to relieve the symptoms.
Various fiber supplements provide the necessary fiber so you don’t need to stuff beans into your mouth every day. Wondering what’s the best fiber supplement for diverticulosis? You’ll find out soon and you have a few choices.
Don't have the time read the entire review?
Here's a quick look at our top choices for the best fiber supplement for diverticulosis
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Best Overall Choice: Bulk Supplements Ground Psyllium Husk | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Runner-Up Option: Sunergetic Psyllium Husk Capsules | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Best Value for the Money: Now Foods, Psyllium Husk Powder | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Most Budget-Friendly: Puritan's Pride Psyllium Husk Seed 100% Natural | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Best Name-Brand Option: Metamucil Fiber 4-in-1 Psyllium Fiber Supplement | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Best Budget-Friendly Pill Option: Fibercon Fiber Therapy for Regularity | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
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Best Organic Option for Diverticulosis: Viva Naturals Organic Psyllium Husk Powder | CLICK HERE FOR PRICE |
Best Fiber Supplement for Diverticulosis Reviews
1. Best Overall Choice: Bulk Supplements Ground Psyllium Husk
From their Nevada facility, Bulk Supplements supplies over 400 pure nutritional supplements and ingredients to customers and manufacturers. The company is dedicated to maintaining quality and service, and their facility is FDA-registered and practices cGMP manufacturing processes.
All their supplements are tested in their in-house laboratory for safety and consistency, and additional testing is done by reputable independent laboratories located in the United States.
Their psyllium husk powder is pure and natural, without any additives, making it the best way for people with diverticulosis to add healthy fiber to their diet.
Bulk Supplements Ground Psyllium Husk is pure psyllium husk with no added ingredients. It is a dietary fiber and prebiotic that helps to support healthy digestion and promotes cardiovascular health.
It is free of sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, or any other additives. Simply mix this powder into a glass of water and drink it for a fiber boost.
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2. Runner-Up Option: Sunergetic Psyllium Husk Capsules
Sunergetic might not be a household name like Metamucil, but this doesn’t mean this supplement is not worth your attention. The Sunergetic Psyllium Husk Capsules, for one, is highly rated.
What’s more, the company adheres to strict regulatory standards and aims to provide a top-quality product. The Sunergetic Psyllium Husk Capsules come from an FDA-certified facility which follows GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards. Plus, you can return the product if not satisfied and get your money back.
But, how does this particular Sunergetic supplement relieve diverticulosis? The primary aim is to promote the health of the digestive tract. The supplement is designed to aid digestion, regular bowel movement, and optimal intestinal health. It’s important to note that this supplement doesn’t contain any other nutrients aside from psyllium husk fiber.
Based on a 2,000-calorie diet, one serving/capsule of 2g of carbohydrates and 0.9g of dietary fiber makes up negligible daily recommended value (RDV) of a person’s carbs intake and 4% RDV of fiber.
If you do the math, you’ll see that two capsules contain 1,450mg of psyllium husk powder, which comes from the seeds of the Plantago plant. The bottle in this review contains 240 capsules.
The manufacturer recommends 2 to 4 capsules per day but you can take more for conditions like diverticulosis. You can take them before or after a meal, though most people do take fiber supplements before meals.
This product contains inactive ingredients such as silicon dioxide, bovine gelatin, and vegetable magnesium. Therefore, it is not suitable for those who are on a vegetarian diet.
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3. Best Value for the Money: Now Foods, Psyllium Husk Powder
NOW Foods has been creating natural products since 1968, from their world class facility in Nevada. Over the years, they have earned hundreds of awards, being recognized by Taste for Life, Vegan Times, Whole Foods Magazine, Delicious Living, BetterNutrition, Clean Eating Magazine, and more.
They have not only been recognized for having great products, but for being a great company.
They have been repeatedly ranked as one of the best companies to work for in America, won the IVC Journal Innovation Award, the Beauty 100 Award, the Nexty Supplyside Award, Botanical Product of the Year, Beauty With A Conscience, and Best New Product.
Finally, they have been recognized as a leader in sustainability, with recognition from the governor of Illinois, a Forest Preserve Award, and the company was even presented with an E award in a ceremony at the White House.
They promote sustainability, make charitable contributions, and advocate for more transparency, science, and consumer protections in the natural products industry. It's a company with an incredible reputation, that you can feel good about buying from.
You might think that, with all this care and quality, NOW products would be more expensive, but the NOW Foods Psyllium Husk Powder is surprisingly affordable,
The Now Foods, Psyllium Husk Powder is pure psyllium husks, ground to a fine powder. NOW psyllium husks are USDA certified organic and non-GMO verified.
This product is vegan, kosher, and free of corn, dairy, eggs, gluten, nuts, soy, or sugar. It's also an excellent value: one tablespoon of NOW psyllium husk powder has 7 grams of fiber, compared to just 1 gram of fiber in other supplements.
For this reason, NOW Foods recommends starting with small amounts of this psyllium husk powder and increasing your dosage gradually over several weeks.
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4. Most Budget-Friendly: Puritan's Pride Psyllium Husk Seed 100% Natural
Puritan's Pride products are made in the USA and have been since the company was founded in 1973. Their ingredients are sourced from more than 106 countries around the world, from suppliers that provide the best quality and potency.
Their products are tested or inspected as many as 15 times throughout the manufacturing process, to ensure purity, quality, and potency, as well as to make sure that products are consistent and produce reliable results for the consumer.
Their facilities are FDA regulated, and Puritan's Pride works closely with the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Their psyllium husk powder is a great budget-friendly option.
Puritan's Pride Psyllium Husk Seed 100% Natural contains nothing but natural psyllium husk powder, supporting digestion, colon, and heart health. It contains no sugar, starch, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, wheat, yeast, or fish. It is made without preservatives, and without artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
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5. Best Name-Brand Option: Metamucil Fiber 4-in-1 Psyllium Fiber Supplement
Metamucil, a Proctor & Gamble brand, is one of the oldest and most popular fiber supplements in the market. It first came out in 1934 as a 100% natural psyllium husk supplement and the current formula does so much more than just help with diverticulosis.
As indicated, there are four beneficial properties of Metamucil fiber. First and foremost, psyllium fiber can treat diverticulosis-induced constipation and help you to maintain regular bowel movements. In your stomach, Metamucil powder thickens into a gel that makes you feel full.
This gel has the ability to trap sugars which may help keep blood sugar levels in check. And finally, Metamucil is designed to promote cardiovascular health and lower your cholesterol levels.
At this point, Metamucil Fiber 4-in-1 Psyllium Fiber Supplement may sound as a do-it-all wonder drug. But there are several medical studies that attest to the blood sugar and cholesterol-regulating properties of psyllium fiber.
By now, it’s obvious that the main active ingredient is psyllium fiber, but are there any other beneficial nutrients in Metamucil? There are! This supplement is also rich in sodium, potassium, and iron.
For your information, potassium is one of the minerals responsible for relaying signals from your stomach to the brain and iron promotes healthy gut flora.
In addition, Metamucil comes in different forms to suit any dietary preferences. The one in this review is an orange-flavored powder that mixes with water to give you a fiber-rich drink. But the same supplement is also available in the form of capsules and snacks (Fiber Thins).
If you are wondering how to take/drink Metamucil, there is no right or wrong way. You can have a serving before or after a meal and at any time of the day. That said, the manufacturer recommends up to three servings/doses per day.
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6. Best Budget-Friendly Pill Option: Fibercon Fiber Therapy for Regularity
Fibercon Fiber Therapy for Regularity is designed to give you relief from diverticulosis-induced constipation. In addition, it is also effective against Irritable Bowels Syndrome (IBS). While the supplement is suitable for daily consumption, it does not technically contain fiber – that’s why it’s called fiber therapy.
Instead, the active ingredient is calcium polycarbophil (you’ll also find 140mg of calcium and 10mg of magnesium per caplet). Although not a fiber, polycarbophil works like a fiber.
Call it synthetic fiber if you will. Its main use is as a bulk-forming laxative that relieves constipation by decreasing the density of stool, making it softer as a result, and therefore an easier on the old toilet.
It’s worth noting that Fibercon Fiber Therapy is more like an over-the-counter laxative than a supplement, so it’s not some that you’ll want if you’re looking for fiber. But if your end target is to relieve the symptoms of diverticulosis, this may work better than some fiber supplements.
The recommended dose is up to four caplets per day. You can take it daily but perhaps not for more than a week unless instructed by a doctor.
In general, diverticulosis patients take 2 caplets once a day but this may depend on your age, diet, the severity of the condition, etc. Regardless, it’s important to wash the caplets down with 8 ounces of water.
Here’s the cool thing compared to dietary fiber. Fibercon caplets don’t ferment in your system, which means there is no risk of bloating or gas.
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7. Best Organic Option for Diverticulosis: Viva Naturals Organic Psyllium Husk Powder
Viva Naturals is devoted to providing healthy, plant-based nutrition to the world. They believe in natural health, transparent sourcing, and sustainability. Their psyllium husk powder is certified organic and non-GMO.
Viva Naturals Organic Psyllium Husk Powder contains pure psyllium husk powder, healthy for the digestive system, colon, and even the heart. It's pure and natural, made without dairy, gluten, soy, or artificial ingredients. It is USDA certified organic, and non-GMO.
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Fiber Supplement Buyers Guide
Like all supplements, fiber supplements for diverticulosis can be obtained online or over the counter without a prescription. But there are a few things you should know to ensure effective relief.
Fiber Supplement Active Ingredients
Most fiber supplements use psyllium husk powder as the main active ingredient. The powder is obtained from the husks of Plantago ovata seeds. Although it has been widely used as a laxative, recent studies also show that psyllium can be beneficial for pancreatic and cardiovascular health.
For diverticulosis patients, psyllium acts as a bulk-forming laxative and a prebiotic. This means it promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut to improve your digestive system. Healthy digestion improves overall immunity and makes it easier for your body to fight inflammation and infection.
Additional Active Ingredients
Some supplements contain minerals and other nutrients which may further promote digestive health. The extra nutrients include magnesium, iron, and potassium.
For example, magnesium has laxative properties which aid regular bowel movement. Studies show that iron helps the growth of gut bacteria and increases butyrate, which is an anti-inflammatory bacterial metabolite.
And potassium is responsible for sending signals to your brain to stimulate bowel contractions and propel digested food.
The bottom line is that you may want to consider a psyllium husk powder supplement that has additional active ingredients. This is of course not a requirement, especially if you’re already taking a daily multivitamin and mineral or if you’re getting enough from your diet.
Inactive Ingredients
There has been a bit of controversy about the inactive ingredients in pills. The truth is that these ingredients are completely safe and won’t affect your health in any way.
By definition, they are inactive in your system. They are mostly preservatives, dyes, binding agents, and flavors. More importantly, the FDA approves of all inactive ingredients that are used in pharmaceutical and health industries and the agency updates the databaseevery year.
On the other hand, some inactive ingredients are animal-based which would make the product unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Fiber Supplement Dosage and Consumption
In general, the recommended daily intake is up to three or four servings/capsules per day. Of course, you may take more if your condition is serious and you’re in overall good health.
Diverticulosis supplements can be taken at any time of the day, before or after a meal. However, certain manufacturers may have more specific recommendations. If you’re taking fiber to feel full, then you should definitely take it before a meal.
Fiber Supplement Types
There are two main types of fiber supplements, powder and pills. You’ll also find edibles that are stuffed full of fiber.
Whichever type you choose, pay attention to the nutritional label and you’ll know how much to take. If you can’t or have difficulty swallowing pills or capsules, you may try a water-soluble powder.
Side Effects
With fiber supplements for diverticulosis, you don’t need to worry about negative effects unless you’re one of those rare souls who are sensitive to dietary fiber. Other than that, stick to the recommended daily intake and you’ll be fine.
In some rare cases, patients may have an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients and experience abdominal cramps or diarrhea. There is also a tiny possibility of abnormal changes in bowel movements that persist after you discontinue the use.
Contraindications with Other Medications
It is safe to take fiber supplements for diverticulosis with other non-laxative medications. But remember, these are bulk-forming laxatives, which means they might affect the metabolization of certain drugs. For this reason, it’s best to take the supplement two hours before or after other medications.
Final Thoughts on Fiber Supplements for Diverticulosis
When you consider the active ingredients, history, and beneficial properties, it’s not hard to determine the best fiber supplement for diverticulosis. Bulk Supplements Ground Psyllium Husk is the supplement that can relieve your symptoms in addition to improving the overall health of your digestive tract.
On top of psyllium husk powder, it also contains potassium and iron for faster and more effective results. And don’t forget that this supplement comes in powder, capsule, and edible forms so you have choices and you can even mix things up if you so wish.
And if you're looking for more resources on supplements, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 8 Best Multivitamin Supplements for Women
- 6 Best Magnesium Supplements for Natural Sleep
- 7 Best Turmeric Supplements
