Herbal    Fiberblend

Herbal Fiberblend provides the fiber that is often lacking in our diets. Its combination of fiber and cleansing herbs provides the perfect way to keep your digestive system clean and maintain your digestive health.

Benefits & Features

Benefits

• Helps maintain whole body health

• Helps maintain digestive health

• Helps maintain regular bowel movements

• Detoxifies - removes toxins from the body

• Reduces transit time - provides more thorough evacuation of waste

• Fiber studies show that soluble fiber helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and may reduce incidences of diverticulosis, colon cancer, and appendicitis

• Water-soluble fiber helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels

Features

• More than 10 years of safe and beneficial use by AIM Members

• Contains the soluble fiber psyllium and more than 15 cleansing herbs

• Good source of fiber: 10 grams per 2 tablespoon serving

• 13-oz Raspberry or 13-oz Unflavored

• Now in 280 Veggie Capsules too!!

Benefits of fiber

A variety of epidemiological (disease and population) studies have found that in populations with high-fiber diets, the incidences of colon cancer, appendicitis, and diverticulosis are very low. Industrialized countries, which largely have diets high in fat and low in fiber, have high incidences of these diseases.

Fiber has long been recognized as one of the best food ingredients for maintaining regularity and preventing constipation. Consuming fiber reduces transit time and results in a more thorough evacuation of waste materials.

Because fiber may cause starches and sugars to be absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream, the amount of glucose in the blood is reduced and so is the work required of the pancreas in producing insulin.

Water-soluble fiber may lower cholesterol. This is because fiber removes bile acids from the body, and bile acids are made from cholesterol. In order to replace the bile acids lost to fiber, the body pulls more cholesterol out of the blood. This lowers cholesterol. However, not all water-soluble fiber does this. The fiber found in oat bran, legumes, and psyllium does. Studies reported by Kellogg indicate that a daily intake of 10 grams of psyllium may lower cholesterol by as much as 15 percent.

Because fiber is low in calories, it can be added to your diet, providing a greater feeling of satiety without significantly increasing your caloric intake. In other words, you may find yourself eating less. This is beneficial in weight-loss programs.

Cleansing, detox, and herbs

The concept of body cleansing has been with us for centuries; simply put, this means that various parts of the body must be in harmony, and if they are not, sickness develops. This harmony was traditionally achieved through diet, internal medicine, purging, vomiting, bleeding, cupping, and other methods.

Today, many health practitioners recognize the importance of keeping the body in harmony; it is often referred to as cleansing or detoxification. Many health practitioners believe that this is particularly important today, as our world is becoming increasingly polluted with toxins found in the environment and in the foods we eat.

Why cleanse?

Toxins undermine our health. Elson Haas, M.D., in his book Staying Healthy with Nutrition, defines a toxin simply as "any substance that creates irritating and/or harmful effects in the body, undermining our health or stressing our biochemical or organ functions." More specifically, a body overloaded with toxins can result in a number of symptoms. These include constipation, stomach bloat, poor digestion, gas, fatigue, weight gain, excessive mucus, poor concentration, headaches, poor skin, poor memory, depression, body odor, and bad breath.

Some health practitioners relate toxins to specific diseases. R.A. Buist, M.D. (International Clinical Nutrition 8, no. 4 [1988]), states that chronic fatigue syndrome may be related to toxin exposure. Multiple chemical sensitivity and fibromyalgia (muscle and joint pain) may also be environment-related diseases. Indeed, there is a new medical category, clinical ecology, which deals exclusively with how toxins in the environment affect our health.

Cleansing

The body does have a system in place for detoxifying these harmful toxins. The most important cleansing organ is the liver. Eliminative channels include the bowels (the digestive system), kidneys, skin, lungs, and lymphatic system.

When the body is doing its job, and is not overburdened with toxins, the blood carries toxins to the liver, which uses enzymes to detoxify the harmful substances. They are rendered harmless or converted into a water-soluble form that is then eliminated via the urine or feces. For a great enzyme product see PrepZymes.

Unfortunately, this system can handle only so many toxins and was designed for "natural" toxins, not the man-made ones we have to deal with today. For example, protection against an age-old toxin-alcohol-is built into our genes. One gene codes an enzyme to convert alcohol into substances that the body can use or excrete.

Our body does not, however, always know how to handle the new toxins in our lives. It cannot understand how to excrete them, and they may accumulate to harmful quantities or be converted to odd, unknown substances that can interfere with metabolism. According to the textbook Nutrition, Concepts and Controversies, this can result in cancers or birth defects.

Today, there are different ways to cleanse the body. Among these are baths and hydrotherapy, diet and nutrition, herbs, chelation, and exercise. Using herbal supplements, often in conjunction with other methods, is one of the most popular ways to cleanse the body.

Herbs in cleansing

Herbs have been used for cleansing purposes for ages. Herbs are said to promote cleansing by eliminating toxins from the organs and systems of the body.

Two thousand to 3,000 years ago, herbal medicine was practiced in both China and India. About 2,000 years ago, the earliest Chinese pharmacopoeia, the Pen Tsao, appeared. It tried to give an authoritative survey of the medicinal preparations available at the time.

In the West, in the first century a.d., the pharmaceutical guide De Materia Medica was written by the Greek physician Dioscorides. In it, he describes the use of more than 600 different herbs, as well as 35 animal products and 90 minerals.

In the sixteenth century, the Swiss-born physician Phillipus Aureolus Paracelsus began to stress the idea that the value of plants is found in their chemical makeup. In other words, he invented the idea of "active ingredients." Scientists began to isolate these ingredients and create them in the laboratory.

Today, more than 25 percent of prescription drugs are derived from plant sources. If you add species such as fungus and molds to this, the number jumps to 50 percent.

Although there is much personal validation on the benefits of herbs, and herbal medicines are prescribed in many countries, there have been few clinical studies on herbs in North America. This is changing, however. More information about herbs is coming from Europe, more studies are being conducted on herbs in North America, and more and more health practitioners are beginning to use herbs for cleansing and other healthful purposes.

Herbal Fiberblend

Two tablespoons (14-16 g) of Herbal Fiberblend ™contain 8 to 10 grams of fiber-most nutritionists recommend 25 to 40 grams of fiber a day.

Psyllium, which is the main fiber source in Herbal Fiberblend, has over eight times the bulking power of oat bran. Psyllium is approximately 75 to 80 percent dietary fiber, 60 to 70 percent of which is soluble fiber. The herbs in Herbal Fiberblend bring you powerful detoxification effects. Combined, these herbs make Herbal Fiberblend one of the most valuable fiber and herb products available today.

Herbal Fiberblend is a professional formulation of herbs in a convenient, easy-to-use powder. No grinding and mixing herbs yourself! It is available in unflavored, and raspberry flavors.

Ingredients

The ingredients in Herbal Fiberblend work together to help your body help itself. Following are the names of the herbal ingredients. Depending on the flavor, Herbal Fiberblend also contains raspberry flavoring, rose hips, or capsicum.

• Alfalfa - Medicago sativa - Relieves constipation and reduces cholesterol

• Black walnut hulls - Juglans nigra - Reduces intestinal parasites and improves bowel movement

• Capsicum - (fruit) – Promotes cleansing of the circulatory and digestive systems; regulates blood pressure

• Cascara sagrada - Rhamnus purshiana - Acts as a laxative, stimulating evacuation from the bowels; promotes peristaltic action (muscular contractions in the digestive system)

• Hibiscus flower - Hibiscus sabdariffa - Lubricates the intestinal tract

• Irish moss - Chondrus crispus - Helps form bulky stools

• Licorice root - Glycyrrhiza glabra - Acts as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic 

• Marshmallow root - Althaea officinalis - Acts as a mucilage, a sticky substance with adhesive qualities (not included in capsules)

• Mullein - Verbascum thapsus - Soothes stomach cramps

• Oatstraw - Avena sativa - Soothes stomach cramps

• Passionflower - Passiflora incarnata - Calms the nervous system and soothes an irritable bowel.

• Psyllium - Plantago ovata - Helps form bulky stools and softens stools; is a natural source of fiber; removes excess cholesterol 

• Pumpkin seeds - Cucurbita pepo - Expels parasites

• Rose hips – (fruit) – Has a calming effect to reduce stress; helps fight infection

• Senna (capsules only) – Senna alexandria – Acts as a laxative, stimulating evacuation from the bowels; promotes peristalsis

• Shavegrass - Equisetum arvense - Expels parasites

• Slippery elm bark - Ulmus rubra - Acts as a mucilage, a sticky substance with adhesive qualities

• Violet - Viola odorata - Cleanses and expels parasites

• Witch hazel - Hamamelis virginiana - Acts as a mucilage 

• Yucca - Yucca schidigera/Yucca brevifolia - Acts as a laxative, stimulating evacuation from the bowels

How to use ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™

Since most people consume less fiber per day than is recommended, you should start out with 1-teaspoon (2.5 g) servings 2 times per day and gradually increase, over 2 weeks, to the recommended serving. The recommended serving size per day is based on weight:

• Up to 150 pounds (68 kg): 1 tablespoon (8 g)

• 150-200 pounds (68-90 kg): 1 1/2 tablespoons (12 g)

• 200 pounds or more (90+ kg): 2 tablespoons (16 g)

• Children should start out with 1/2 teaspoon per day and gradually increase to 1 teaspoon (2.5 g) per day.

• Use for 3 months for initial program, then as desired.

Add ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ to 6 to 8 ounces (180 to 240 ml) of water or juice. Remember that the more fiber you consume, the more water you should consume. Drink 8 glasses of water per day while using ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™.

Take ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™1 hour before or 30 minutes after taking BarleyLife ™, ^AIM Just Carrots ™, or ^AIM RediBeets ™.

A few people, notably healthcare providers who have been occupationally exposed to psyllium dust, may develop a sensitivity to psyllium, resulting in an allergic reaction.

If you are having more than 3 eliminations per day, you should reduce the serving size. How much to reduce the serving size depends on your weight. This may occur because of differences in metabolism.

^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ has a shelf life of 3 years, unopened. Close tightly after opening and store in a cool, dry, dark place (70-75 ψF; 20.1-23.8 ψC). Do not refrigerate.

Q & A

How does ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ help whole body health?

^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ provides you with fiber and cleansing herbs. This combination helps you maintain bowel regularity, scour the intestine walls, and rid your body of toxins. A regular clean, toxin-free body is the first step to maintaining overall health.

How much fiber is in ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™?

A two-tablespoon serving contains 10 grams of fiber. The recommended daily value is 25 grams, and many nutritionists recommend up to 40 grams of fiber per day.

Will the fiber in ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ result in mineral deficiencies or remove "good bacteria?"

Although research continues on this question, studies indicate that psyllium fiber will not result in mineral loss, and friendly bacteria actually feed on fiber. For a great friendly bacteria product see FloraFood

What can I expect when I take ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™?

You may notice more regular bowel movements and more complete evacuation of waste. As the fiber and herbs "clean" your system, you may notice common detoxification symptoms, such as rashes or feeling tired.

Can ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ be habit-forming?

No. None of the constituents of ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ is habit-forming. However, if you stop taking it, you will need to replace the fiber by eating more natural fibers because your body will have grown accustomed to the amount of bulking fiber in ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™. If you do not replace it, you may experience some constipation or irregularity as your body adjusts.

Whole Body Health

Whole body health results when all body systems are in balance. No single body system is targeted-we make choices that keep all systems toxin-free and that supply all systems with optimum nutrition. The result is total wellness: waking up every day feeling great!

• ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™ is a Whole Body Health product. The complete Whole Body Health lines consists of the ^AIM Garden Trio ™ -- ^AIM BarleyLife ™, ^AIM Just Carrots ™, AIM RediBeets ™ -- and ^AIM Herbal Fiberblend ™. Use these products to give yourself a solid foundation for your health.

Suggested Reading

• Jensen, Bernard. Dr. Jensen's Guide to Better Bowel Care. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1999.

• Schumacher, Teresa, and Toni Schumacher Lund. Cleansing the Body and the Colon for a Happier and Healthier You.

• Castleman, Michael. The Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1991.