A quick note on fiber

Bonnie- People often ask me why they have to supplement with vitamins and minerals when taking a fiber (Benefiber, Fibersure, Citracal, etc.) supplement. The answer is pretty simple. While supplemental fiber serves a tremendous purpose for those of us who find it hard to get enough in our daily diet, fiber also blocks the absorption of several crucial nutrients, especially minerals. Fiber rich foods are richer in needed nutrients, so their decreased absorption is not a problem. However, supplemental fiber is not nutrient-rich so must be supplemented with specific vitamins and minerals.