When comedian Sheryl Underwood’s lab work came back with words like pre-diabetes, diabetes and hypertension, it was her wake-up call. Although the 59-year-old was exploring drastic weight loss options, she knew would need to tackle her digestive health first to spark real change.
“I had to deal with my digestive health and then I dealt with the overall,” she says. To do this, she started Metamucil’s 2-Week Challenge. While 14 days may not seem like enough time to improve your health, Underwood immediately began to see improvement in her digestion.
“A lot of people don’t really think about their digestion—they think about other aspects of their health and wellness but not digestive health. But when you don’t take care of your digestive health, you can feel sluggish and weighed down,” Underwood says. “It can even make you grouchy because you feel like your stomach is in knots! Some people realize they don’t feel good and know something is weighing them down, but they just don’t know what the solution is. That’s where the Metamucil Two-Week Challenge comes in. It helps trap and remove waste so you can start to feel lighter and more energetic. You’ll be up for doing anything from putting in your earbuds and going for a walk to kicking it with your girlfriends.”
RELATED: Psyllium: The Super Fiber For Heart Health & Weight Loss
Why the Metamucil two-week challenge?
The digestive system plays an important role in our overall health and well-being.
To function properly, our gut needs nutrients like fiber. Unfourtanetly, only 10 percent of Americans get enough fiber in their regular diet every day, according to a study.
Metamucil, which is a psyllium fiber supplement, can help close the fiber gap.
“That’s why Metamucil is so great in addition to a healthy diet—it can bridge that gap between what you’re getting through food and what you need in a day. I’m not against drinking a smoothie for fiber; I’m just all about adding Metamucil on top of the smoothie to make sure you’re getting enough,” Underwood adds.
So how exactly does Metamucil benefit your health? Here’s how:
- Promotes digestive health: Gel-forming psyllium is an effective soluble fiber for helping alleviate gastrointestinal problems such as constipation.
- Lowers cholesterol: A recent meta-analysis of 28 studies, with a median psyllium dose of 10.2 g/d taken for eight weeks, shows that this soluble fiber lowers LDL cholesterol levels and heart disease.
- Helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels: In short, consuming psyllium fiber slows the breakdown of carbohydrates by digestive enzymes. This delays the release of sugar into the bloodstream following meals.
- Helps you feel less hungry between meals aiding in weight loss: Psyllium fiber adds bulk to your diet and reduces the speed of digestion allowing you to feel full longer. This results in fewer calories, better portion control and weight loss.
How to start the Metamucil challenge
Metamucil comes in many different forms and flavors, including powders and capsules. Whether you are on the go or prefer to take your Metamucil in the morning, you can find the product that fits best into your lifestyle.
When starting the Metamucil challenge, remember to follow the directions on the package. You can start with one
