We've got the answers to commonly asked questions about the benefits of fiber and how Metamucil® can fit into your daily diet.
What else can I do ongoing to help build and maintain a healthy digestive system?
What is “MultiHealth”? Is Metamucil the same product I’ve been taking, or has it changed?
Why does my Metamucil package look different? Is the product the same?
The product is the same, but the packaging has been updated to make your favorite fiber easier to find. We’ve also added the multiple benefits of Metamucil to the package—look for them, along with all other product information, on the front and back labels of your Metamucil product.
My wafers package changed. What does “MultiGrain” mean?
Metamucil MultiGrain Wafers are the same great wafers you know and love. The product has not changed, just the artwork. We added “MultiGrain” to the name to let you know it’s a tasty and easy way to get multiple grains that are necessary for a healthy diet, like wheat flour and oats.
What does 100 percent natural fiber mean?
Metamucil capsules contain psyllium husk, a natural dietary fiber originating from the psyllium plant, which relieves
constipation and can lower blood cholesterol levels.*
* Clinical studies have shown that 7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium husk, as found in
Metamucil, taken daily as part of a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart
disease by lowering cholesterol.
If psyllium husk is a carbohydrate, why do Metamucil Capsules contain zero net carbs?
In strict scientific terms, natural psyllium fiber is a polysaccharide that is a subclass of carbohydrates. Although dietary supplement regulations require that we list psyllium fiber as part of the carbohydrate total, it is, in fact, very different from carbohydrates such as sugar, glucose, fruit sugar, corn syrups, and starches. This is because our gastrointestinal enzymes cannot digest psyllium; therefore, our bodies do not absorb it and do not convert it into glucose.
What is the dosage/serving size for Metamucil?
| Capsules | 2 to 6 Capsules |
| Capsules Plus Calcium | 2 to 5 Capsules |
| Orange Smooth | 1 Tablespoon |
| Orange Coarse | 1 Tablespoon |
| Sugar Free Orange Smooth | 1 Teaspoon |
| Sugar Free Original Smooth | 1 Teaspoon |
| Sugar Free Pink Lemonade Smooth | 1 Teaspoon |
| Sugar Free Berry Smooth | 1 Teaspoon |
| Original Coarse | 1 Teaspoon |
| Apple Wafers | 2 Wafers |
| Cinnamon Wafers | 2 Wafers |
Why is the dosage/serving size different for Sugar and Sugar Free Powders?
All Metamucil Powder products, except Metamucil Sugar Free Pink Lemonade Smooth, contain the same amount of psyllium husk per dose—3.4 grams. Metamucil Sugar Free Pink Lemonade Smooth contains 3.3 grams of psyllium husk per dose. Dosage/serving size amounts differ by version because the sweeteners and flavorings used in each Metamucil product vary in volume.
Is it OK to take Metamucil with food? Should I take it before or after meals?
Any time of day is appropriate to take Metamucil as long as an adequate intake of fluids (at least 8 ounces of water or liquid per serving) is consumed. We recommend taking Metamucil three times per day at mealtimes as a convenient way to remember to take Metamucil. Our powdered product must be mixed with liquids, not taken in its dry form. Capsules should be taken one at a time; we do not recommend dissolving them in water. Please take Metamucil with at least 8 ounces of liquid, as indicated. For Metamucil Capsules Plus Calcium, we recommend taking them four times per day with at least 8 ounces of liquid, as indicated.
Is it OK to use Metamucil every day?
As a dietary fiber supplement:
Metamucil can be taken every day as a dietary fiber supplement. If you are considering use of Metamucil as part of a
cholesterol-lowering program, please consult a doctor before using.
As a fiber laxative:
Metamucil is indicated for treating occasional constipation. Constipation persisting beyond seven days may be a sign of a
more serious condition. We recommend you discuss with your doctor the use of Metamucil as a fiber laxative on a long-term
basis.
Can Metamucil be used past the expiration date?
If your Metamucil has expired, please don't use it. The expiration date is on Metamucil because we have research to show
that the ingredients are stable until the expiration date, if stored according to label instructions. Please discard any
expired product in your trash can. Do not pour Metamucil down your drain.
Depending on the version you purchased, Metamucil has a two- to three-year shelf life. The expiration date is stamped on
the bottom or side of each canister or bottle or on the back of each packet. If you purchased a box of wafers, the
expiration date is stamped in ink on the side of each foil packet. The expiration dates are expressed by month and year,
which means that the product can be used through the month noted.
What is the difference between Smooth Texture and Coarse Milled Original Texture?
Metamucil Smooth Fiber Supplement Powder is ground into finer particles than Metamucil Coarse Fiber Supplement Powder. Both have the same amount of psyllium and the same efficacy. Because of individual taste differences, you may prefer either Metamucil Smooth products or the Metamucil Coarse products.
The maltodextrin in Metamucil is a carbohydrate derived from cornstarch. It is used to improve texture and aid in mixing. Maltodextrin contains approximately 25 percent digestible sugars, as compared to sucrose, or table sugar, which consists of 100 percent digestible sugars. Maltodextrin, like other carbohydrates, provides 4 kcal/g. On a per-dose basis of Metamucil, this amounts to about 6 to 8 calories coming from the maltodextrin.
How does Metamucil work for laxation?
Metamucil contains a bulk-forming fiber without any chemical stimulants. The active ingredient, psyllium, is a harvested grain that absorbs and holds moisture. This causes the psyllium to swell, supplying the necessary bulk to help form an easily eliminated stool. Metamucil will not cause immediate evacuation but generally produces an effect in 12 to 72 hours.
The product itself has not changed. The label has changed. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim for foods and dietary supplements that recognizes that diets containing soluble fiber from psyllium husk, as in Metamucil, may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol when included as part of a low-fat diet. The label now provides this information on how Metamucil can be used as a dietary fiber supplement and as a fiber laxative for regularity.
Is there any scientific or medical evidence for the heart health claim?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed extensive scientific data including numerous clinical studies to determine that psyllium husk, as in Metamucil, may reduce the risk of heart disease when part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
Clinical studies have shown that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, plus the recommended 7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium husk per day, may result in a modest change in your blood total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol within several weeks (approximately one month). We recommend that you talk to your doctor about your current blood cholesterol levels and determine when you should be checked again.
Why should I talk to my doctor before I take Metamucil to lower cholesterol?
We recommend that you contact your doctor before using Metamucil as part of a diet to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering cholesterol. There are many factors that your doctor will need to consider, including your health, medical and family history, lifestyle, and other risk factors. Your doctor is the best one to advise you.
Net carbs are digestible carbohydrates that affect blood sugar. To find out how many net carbs something has, you simply subtract the amount of dietary fiber from the total number of carbohydrates. (Also subtract the amount of sugar alcohol and glycerine if they are included in the total carbohydrates count.)
Do Metamucil Capsules have zero net carbs?
Yes, because they are made up of 100% natural fiber. Dietary fiber is not absorbed by the human body and is not converted into blood sugar.
What does gluten free mean? Which Metamucil products are gluten free?
According to the FDA, gluten free means that the product does not contain any ingredient derived from the grains wheat, rye, or barley, and that it contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten. All Metamucil Powders, Fiber Singles, and Capsules, as well as Metamucil Clear & Natural, are gluten free (less than 20 ppm per gram). Metamucil Wafers are not gluten free; please check label for more information.
All Metamucil products have a low glycemic index. What does that mean?
When carbohydrates are digested, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. The slower the carbohydrate is digested, the slower the glucose appears in the blood—resulting in a low glycemic index rating. Different foods and products have different glycemic index ratings. Products with a low glycemic index have a relatively low impact on blood sugar levels, making them a good addition to any healthy diet.
* Psyllium fiber, as in Metamucil powders and capsules, is recognized by the FDA to treat occasional constipation and help lower cholesterol. Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of soluble fiber per day from psyllium husk may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. One adult dose of Metamucil has at least 2.1 grams of this soluble fiber. Use as directed. May contain trace amounts of gluten. If you have specific dietary needs, you should consult your doctor before consuming this product. This Metamucil product has a low glycemic index, a measure of the effect of dietary carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.
** Use as directed for diarrhea or overindulgence in food or drink.
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* Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of soluble fiber per day from psyllium husk may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. One adult dose of Metamucil has at least 2.1 grams of this soluble fiber. Use as directed. May contain trace amounts of gluten. If you have specific dietary needs, you should consult your doctor before consuming this product. This Metamucil product has a low glycemic index, a measure of the effect of dietary carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.
