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AIM Herbal Fiberblend® in the UK

• Helps maintain regular bowel movements
• Detoxifies—removes toxins from the body
• Water-soluble fibre helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Fibre may reduce incidences of diverticulosis, colon cancer, and appendicitis

Ingredients

The ingredients in AIM Herbal Fiberblend® work together to help your body help itself. Following are the names of the herbal ingredients and their functions.

• 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 antiinflammatory and antispasmodic
• Marshmallow root – Althaea officinalis – Acts as a mucilage, a sticky substance with adhesive qualities
• 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, a sticky substance with adhesive qualities
• Yucca – Yucca schidigera/Yucca brevifolia – Acts as a laxative, stimulating evacuation from the bowels

Fibre

Fibre has long been recognized as one of the best food ingredients for maintaining bowel regularity and preventing constipation. Because it normalizes bowel movements, it can also be used to treat and manage chronic diarrhea. (Murray 1996) Consuming fibre reduces transit time and results in a more thorough evacuation of waste materials. It is thought to improve all aspects of colon function.

Fibre is found only in fruits and plants. It is an indigestible complex carbohydrate and, therefore, adds few, if any, calories to the diet. There are two main types of fibre — water-soluble and insoluble. Both types of fibre are required in the daily diet, in the recommended ratio of 3:1 insoluble fibre to water-soluble fibre. (Shikany 2000)

Water-soluble fibre

Water-soluble fibre dissolves in water and is found in oat bran, legumes, psyllium, nuts, beans, pectins, and various fruits and vegetables. It forms a bulky gel in the intestine that regulates the flow of waste materials through the digestive tract.

Water-soluble fibre may lower cholesterol by preventing the reabsorption of bile acids. Bile acids are made from cholesterol, and after they aid fat digestion, fibre binds with them and escorts them out of the body. The liver then has to pull more cholesterol from the blood. In a metaanalysis of 67 controlled trials, it was found that some water-soluble fibre lowers the total cholesterol and the bad cholesterol (LDL) without affecting the good cholesterol (HDL). (Brown 1999) A similar double-blind study found that psyllium lowered LDL cholesterol without affecting HDL cholesterol. (Anderson 1999)

Water-soluble fibre may also stabilize blood sugar by slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates into the blood. Plus, it can lower blood sugar levels. Researchers have found that increasing fiber intake results in a decrease in the body’s need for insulin. (Nuttall 1993) Psyllium supplementation, in particular, has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in diabetics. (Anderson 2000)

Insoluble fibre

Insoluble fibre cannot be dissolved in water, meaning that our bodies cannot digest it. This type of fibre includes the undissolvable parts of plant walls and is found in greatest amounts in cereals, brans, and vegetables. The primary function of insoluble fiber is to collect water that increases stool bulk in the large intestine. This promotes bowel movement, and as the bulk works through the intestine, it scours the intestinal walls of waste matter, reducing the risk of colon related problems.

Fibre in the diet

Most nutritionists recommend consuming 25 to 40 grams of fibre per day. The average North American consumes only 10 to 15 grams of fibre daily.

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

Because fibre is low in calories, it can be added to your diet, providing a greater feeling of satiety without significantly increasing your caloric intake. The fibre found in fruits and plants serves as a source of complex carbohydrate, which most nutritionists consider to be a healthy choice. In addition, fibre's ability to stabilize blood sugar may also curb the desire to snack. 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. Today, many health practitioners recognize the importance of keeping the body in harmony to prevent sickness; it is often referred to as cleansing or detoxification.

Many health practitioners believe that as our world becomes increasingly polluted with toxins found in the environment and in the foods we eat, cleansing become more important. The increased popularity of high-protein diets further promotes the need to detoxify.

Why cleanse?

Toxins undermine our health. Elson Haas, M.D., in his book Staying Healthy with Nutrition (1992), 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 odour, and bad breath.

Some health practitioners relate toxins to specific diseases.
(Buist 1988, Bland 1997) They believe that chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and fibromyalgia (muscle and joint pain) may be related to toxin exposure.

Cleansing

The body does have a system in place for detoxifying 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 not overburdened with toxins and is performing well, blood carries toxins to the liver, which uses enzymes to detoxify harmful substances. They are rendered harmless or converted into a water-soluble form that is eliminated via the urine or feces.
Unfortunately, this system can handle only so many toxins and was designed for “natural” toxins, not the manmade 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 (Sizer 2000), 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. Herbal supplementation, often in conjunction with other methods, has been used for ages and is one of the most popular ways to cleanse. Herbs are said to promote cleansing by eliminating toxins from the organs and systems of the body.

How to use AIM Herbal Fiberblend®

Since most people consume less fiber per day than is recommended, you should start out with a 1-teaspoon (2.3 g) serving, or 3 to 6 capsules once per day. Increase this to one teaspoon twice per day, and gradually work up to the full serving of 1 tablespoon twice per day, or 3 to 6 capsules twice per day.

Recommended usage:

• Take 1 tablespoon of powder twice per day.
• Take 3-6 capsules twice per day.
• You may wish to increase your consumption of AIM Herbal Fiberblend® to best suit your needs.
• Use daily for three months and then as desired thereafter.
• Add AIM Herbal Fiberblend® powder to 6 to 8 ounces (180 to 240 ml) of water or juice. Drink 8 glasses of water per day while using AIM Herbal Fiberblend®. To experience the benefits of fiber, adequate water is necessary.
• Take AIM Herbal Fiberblend® 1 hour before or 30 minutes after taking BarleyLife®, AIM Just Carrots®, or AIM RediBeets®.
• Exposure to psyllium dust may create a sensitivity resulting in an allergic reaction.
• Close tightly after opening and store in a cool, dry, dark place (70-75 °F; 20.1-23.8 °C). Do not refrigerate.

Q & A

How does AIM Herbal Fiberblend® help digestive health?

• AIM Herbal Fiberblend® provides you with fibre and cleansing herbs. This combination helps you maintain bowel regularity, scour the intestine walls, and rid your body of toxins. A clean, toxin-free body is the first step toward good health. Fibre has also been shown to reduce cholesterol and maintain blood sugar levels.

How much fibre is in AIM Herbal Fiberblend®?

• A 1-tablespoon (7 to 8 g) serving contains 4 to 5 grams of fibre. The recommended daily allowance is 25 to 40 grams of fibre.

Will the fibre in AIM Herbal Fiberblend® result in mineral deficiencies or remove “good bacteria?”

• Although research continues on this question, studies indicate that psyllium fibre will not result in mineral loss, and friendly bacteria actually feed on fibre.

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 fibre and herbs “clean” your system, you may notice common detoxification symptoms. See AIM’s Detoxification data sheet for more information.

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 fibre by eating more natural fibres because your body will have grown accustomed to the amount of bulking fibre in AIM Herbal Fiberblend®. If you do not replace it, you may experience some constipation or irregularity as your body adjusts.

Resources

• Anderson, J.W.; L.D. Allgood; J. Turner; et al. “Effects of Psyllium on Glucose and Serum Lipid Response in Men with Type II Diabetes and Hypercholesterolemia.” Am J Clin Nutr 70 (1999): 466-73.

• Anderson, J.W.; M.H. Davidson; L. Blonde, et al. “Long-Term Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Psyllium as an Adjunct to Diet Therapy in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia.” Am J Clin Nutr 71, no. 6 (2000): 1,433-8.

• Bland, J.S.; J.A. Bralley; S. Rigden. “Management of Chronic Fatigue Symptoms by Tailored Nutritional Intervention Using a Program Designed to Support Hepatic Detoxification.” Gig Harbor, WA: HealthComm Inc., 1997.

• Brown, L.; B. Rosner; W.W. Willet; F.M. Sacks. “Cholesterol Lowering Effects of Dietary Fiber: A Meta-Analysis.” Am J Clin Nutr 69 (1999): 30-42.

• Buist, R.A. “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chemical Overload.” Int Clin Nutr Rev 8, no. 4 (1988): 173-5.

• Haas, Elson, M.D. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. Berkley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1992.

• Murray, M.T. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996.

• Nuttall, F.W. “Dietary Fiber in the Management of Diabetes.” Diabetes 42 (1993): 503-8.

• Shikany, J.M., and G.L. White “Dietary Guidelines for Chronic Disease Prevention.” Southern Medical Journal 93, no. 12 (2000): 1,138-51.

• Sizer, Frances S., and Eleanor N. Whitney. Nutrition Concepts and Controversies. (8th ed.) New York: West/Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2000.

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