Part of my job as a colon hydrotherapist is to educate my clients as to what it takes to maintain good colon health.  While fiber supplementation is encouraged, it is crucial to be cautious when using products that contain large amounts of psyllium such as Metamucil. 

The following is an excerpt from Brenda Watson’s book “The H.O.P.E. Formula”:

“It is important to consume both soluble and insoluble fiber, for each type has its unique benefits, …   An imbalance can create problems.  Psyllium, the major type of fiber sold in health food stores and the main ingredient in a lot of commercial bulk laxatives, is 97% water-soluble and actually absorbs 40 times its own weight in water.  The down side of this is that it has a dehydrating effect on the colon.  Over-consumptions of psyllium can therefore cause constipation (as well as bloating).  Ironically, many people are taking fiber because they are already constipated and are unaware that it can actually make the problem worse.  Two other problems associated with eating a high level of pysllium fiber according to Leo Galland, M.D., are that it (1) can increase intestinal permeability and create changes in the internal environment that contribute to the development of stomach or bowel cancer and (2) can encourage an overgrowth of the normal intestinal bacteria, which deprives the body of vitamin B12 and produces an increase in the concentration of bacterial toxins.”