Aquafina Fiber water

[ncjohn]

I've been drinking the Aquafina Alive "Satisfy" fiber water, which shows it to have 5 gm of Dietary Fiber per bottle. I'm wondering though, since there is no "texture" to this water, if the fiber in it is the same, or of the same value, as what you get from something like Metameucil.

If it is, I'm thrilled since this tastes pretty decent and is much easier to drink than the fiber supplements. I'm wondering though if I'm deluding myself into thinking I'm getting something I'm really not.

John

[RedRox]

Originally Posted by ncjohn

I've been drinking the Aquafina Alive "Satisfy" fiber water, which shows it to have 5 gm of Dietary Fiber per bottle. I'm wondering though, since there is no "texture" to this water, if the fiber in it is the same, or of the same value, as what you get from something like Metameucil.

If it is, I'm thrilled since this tastes pretty decent and is much easier to drink than the fiber supplements. I'm wondering though if I'm deluding myself into thinking I'm getting something I'm really not.

John

I really don't have an answer to your question since I don't know what they put in there to give it fiber. What are in the ingredients other than water?

My view of these and the protein waters and vitamin waters, etc. is that we should drink water for hydration and not confuse it with nutrition. Nutrition should come from the foods we eat on this program. If we are eating properly, we shouldn't need "additives" in our water to make up for something missing nutritionally, because we shouldn't really be missing much if anything. YMMV.

[ncjohn]

Originally Posted by RedRox

My view of these and the protein waters and vitamin waters, etc. is that we should drink water for hydration and not confuse it with nutrition. Nutrition should come from the foods we eat on this program. If we are eating properly, we shouldn't need "additives" in our water to make up for something missing nutritionally, because we shouldn't really be missing much if anything. YMMV.

I don't disagree with you for the most part. Especially in PH 1 though, there is a lot of the natural fiber missing and even the book recommends a supplement to help with that. PH 2 is a little better, but still may not provide the levels I need.

I am prone to diverticulitis and keeping fiber content high is especially important to me to prevent flareups. As such I'm just wondering if this water does actually do that.

John

[tom]

Wikipedia has a good article about fiber
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/south-beach-diet-forums/2129-aquafina-fiber-water.html
Dietary fiber - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Firstly I agree with RedRox. This is definitely we got in the trouble we are all in now. We try to out smart nature. Nature gives us a prune and we try to make a water that is healthier than a prune. Eat the prune.

That being said I think that this water may do what you are thinking. If you have tried psylum husks it is an additive that you add to water. If you dont add enough water it is really thick ... but you can add a ton of water to it and it will be liquidy. I think the water probably just find the max point where they can make it for the most part undetectible. BUt I am pretty sure it has the same effect.

I will research this a little more and get back to you.

However ... I would like you to try something ... please go out and buy :
Aloe Juice. This stuff rocks!!! I think it has some of the same benefit as fiber in that it really helps the digestive system, circuilatory system and just gives your energy. I get my aloe juice from trader joes. However most health food stores have it. Or I have heard that people make their own by adding aloe into a bottle of water that they store.

[tom]

Where does the fiber in aquafina alive satisfy come from?
Each 8oz serving of AQUAFINA ALIVE SATISFY has 3 grams of functional fiber from Fibersol which appears on the label as the ingredient maltodextrin a soluble dietary fiber.

OK lets research:

Fibersol:
Fibersol-2™

Fibersol-2™ digestion resistant maltodextrin is an innovative, highly soluble fiber. It is very stable, has low viscosity, is transparent in solution and adds virtually no flavor to the finished product. These remarkable physical and sensory attributes make ADM’s Fibersol-2™ digestion resistant maltodextrin an exceptional ingredient for a myriad of ingredient applications: reduced-calorie products, beverages, baked goods, cereals, processed meats, dairy and frozen dairy items, soups, dressings, meal replacements, dietary supplements, medical foods, functional food and more



Physiological and Metabolic Properties of a Digestion-Resistant Maltodextrin, Classified as Type 3 Retrograded Resistant Starch


There is a growing interest in highly fermentable dietary fibers having the potential to reduce risks of disease through the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Recently a digestion-resistant retrograded maltodextrin (RRM), classified as type 3 resistant starch was developed. Systematic work to determine its molecular and physiological properties was carried out to determine (1) the fraction resistant to digestion in vitro and in vivo, (2) its postconsumption effect on blood glucose in healthy volunteers, and (3) its in vitro fermentation pattern, at different ages, by use of pooled fresh human fecal inoculum. Results: The digestion resistant fraction obtained in vivo from ileostomy patients (59.4%) is similar to that obtained by the AOAC method for measuring retrograded resistant starch (59.7%). The relative glycemic response after consumption of 50 g of RRM was 58.5% compared to glucose set as 100%. When exposed to colonic microbiota, in vitro obtained indigestible fractions behave similarly to those obtained in vivo in ileostomy patients. Fermentation of RRM and production of butyric acid is negligible during the first months of life but develops subsequently during weaning. In adults, RRM fermentation results in a high yield of SCFA, with butyrate representing 21-31 mol % of total SCFA. The high yield of SCFA during colonic fermentation, observed from weaning age on, as well as the potential to help reduce glycemic load may be of benefit to a number of health-related functions in the host. Further study on clear clinical end points is warranted.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=2129
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=2129



Dextrin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For example, maltodextrin either can be moderately sweet or have hardly any flavor at all. Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide that is used as a food additive. It is produced from starch and is usually found as a creamy-white hygroscopic powder. Maltodextrin is easily digestible, being absorbed as rapidly as glucose. The CAS registry number of maltodextrin is 9050-36-6.
Maltodextrin can be derived from any starch. In the US, this starch is usually rice, corn or potato; elsewhere, such as in Europe, it is commonly wheat. This is important for coeliacs, since the wheat-derived maltodextrin can contain traces of gluten. There have been recent reports of coeliac reaction to maltodextrin in the United States. This might be a consequence of the shift of corn to ethanol production and its replacement with wheat in the formulation. The fast food chain, Wendy's, footnotes maltodextrin in its list of gluten-free foods [1], which may be a sign of their receiving reports of this.
Foods containing maltodextrin may contain traces of amino acids, including glutamic acid as a manufacturing by-product. The amino acid traces would be too small to have any dietary significance.

[tom]

I also posted this :

The Benefits of Fiber in a Low-Carb World

[ncjohn]

Wow....thanks Tom!!!

I tend to agree with both of your opinions that using additives is not the best way to go. As you noted "We try to out smart nature. Nature gives us a prune and we try to make a water that is healthier than a prune. Eat the prune." I couldn't agree more.

What brought me to the water was the "no fruits" command of PH 1. I would have much preferred to just stick with "the prune" but that didn't seem to be an option. In PH 2 I see I am allowed dried apricots, which I have often substituted in the past, so likely I will go that route to fill in the gaps. My doctor had also recommended a couple years ago eating yogurt with active cultures for the prebiotic effect mentioned in the one article and it was nice to see that confirmed and to now understand the logic.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=2129

That being said, unless I misread the articles, it looks like the water does still have beneficial fiber qualities. So, since I enjoy the taste anyway and it helps me keep my hydration up, I may stick with it and let it add whatever benefits are there.

Thanks for your research. What started as a curiosity question in a discussion with my son has now increased my knowledge base on a whole host of things.

John

[tom]

Please try the aloe juice and let me know how it goes. I love it and cant get enough of it.

Originally Posted by ncjohn

Wow....thanks Tom!!!

I tend to agree with both of your opinions that using additives is not the best way to go. As you noted "We try to out smart nature. Nature gives us a prune and we try to make a water that is healthier than a prune. Eat the prune." I couldn't agree more.

What brought me to the water was the "no fruits" command of PH 1. I would have much preferred to just stick with "the prune" but that didn't seem to be an option. In PH 2 I see I am allowed dried apricots, which I have often substituted in the past, so likely I will go that route to fill in the gaps. My doctor had also recommended a couple years ago eating yogurt with active cultures for the prebiotic effect mentioned in the one article and it was nice to see that confirmed and to now understand the logic.

That being said, unless I misread the articles, it looks like the water does still have beneficial fiber qualities. So, since I enjoy the taste anyway and it helps me keep my hydration up, I may stick with it and let it add whatever benefits are there.

Thanks for your research. What started as a curiosity question in a discussion with my son has now increased my knowledge base on a whole host of things.

John

[ncjohn]

Originally Posted by tom

Please try the aloe juice and let me know how it goes. I love it and cant get enough of it.

I'll see if I can find some. We're kind of "out in the sticks" and health food type places are few and far between. If nothing else, I'll look next time I head down to Atlanta.

Thanks for the tip!

[tom]

Although I have not tried it ... you can make your own aloe juice.

Basically squeeze the liquid out of an aloe vera plant. Until you get 2 tbs of liquid ... mix with about 32 oz of water .... add a cucumber ( optional ).

Blend in a blender ... drink 2-3 oz a day.

I am not sure if the recipe works ... so you may want to try small amounts at first.

Originally Posted by ncjohn

I'll see if I can find some. We're kind of "out in the sticks" and health food type places are few and far between. If nothing else, I'll look next time I head down to Atlanta.

Thanks for the tip!