All Plugged Up and Benefiber is Nowhere to be Found - Until TODAY!

NEWER UPDATE!!  Sept. 13, 2013... The actual brand of Benefiber is now back in the stores.  I did have someone make a comment that the ingredients in Benefiber in the US is different than the ingredients in the Canadian version.  Next time I'm in out shopping I will check it out.  Did they change the ingredients?  If so, use the Costco brand.  It's exactly the same as the old Benefiber only cheaper.

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UPDATE_UPDATE!!  I was in Costco today, August 24, 2012 and I found the exact same item.  Wouldn't you know, Costco would see the issue and run with it.  There is now a Costco brand of Wheat Dextrine.  200 servings for $15.  Same exact stuff as Benefiber.  Dissolves the same.  Just cheaper and more servings.  Stock up!

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ORIGINAL POST
Are you sure you are plugged up?  Not a problem just run to the store and buy some Benefiber.  It's good stuff.  It has no taste, it mixes with anything, and a teaspoon a day should keep things going well.  Except there isn't any Benefiber anywhere, unless you want to buy it on eBay for 5 times its regular price.  Why?  Because the main company, Novartis, recalled several of its products including Excedrin, Bufferin, Gas-X, and NoDoz because there may be some broken pills or some pills of one type may have gotten into the container of another.  Imagine needing Gas-X and you end up with a little piece of a NoDoz pill. They shut the entire production line down to retool.  Unfortunately for those who are a little plugged up, Benefiber is a victim of this shut down. 

The product can't be found at Costco, Sam's Club, or even your neighborhood store.  Novarits said the shortage isn't expected to last too long,however the recall was at the beginning of January.  It's now May and the shelves are still bare. 

Sure you can buy another brand but what if that's your favorite?  We do use Benefiber at our house.  I put one teaspoon into my coffee every morning.  I'm not worried.  I have three 190 serving bottles.  And a serving is two teaspoons.  So I've got over three years worth.  Let the shortage continue.  I'm sure as soon as it comes back on the shelves they will be lots of sales and coupons to get everyone to buy it rather than whatever brand people have been substituting. 

Now how about some other tips for constipation?  Constipation can be from many causes: lack of fiber in the diet, not drinking enough liquid, stress, and medications.  Even lack of exercise can affect your movement...in more than one way! 

Many people think they are constipated because they don't go daily. Some people just don't go daily while others may have more than one bowel movement every day.  Both are normal.

If you are constipated the first thing you should do is make sure your fluid intake is adequate.  Drink water.  Drink water, eat fiber, drink water, eat fiber.  Doesn't sound too hard.

You should eat 20-35 grams of fiber per day.  This wouldn't be too hard if you ate vegetables, dried beans, and whole grains.  If you aren't getting enough fiber start to eat more fiberous foods.  Just don't jump into it full fledged on day one or you will have terrible gas problems.  This could be a problem if TSHTF and not your toilet!  If you have whole wheat and dried beans in your storage program but you aren't used to eating them you could end up not feeling well at all!

Exercising can help get your system back into a regular pattern.  Some doctors believe that you should train yourself to go on a regular basis.  They suggest that you pick a time of the day, say right after breakfast, and you sit on the toilet for 10 minutes each and every day trying to train your body to go at that time.  Eventually it should work to put you on a set schedule. 

Back to the Benefiber.  Chemical laxatives are not really good for you.  They can actually do more harm than good because they teach your bowels to be lazy and only want to go if you use the chemical.  On the other hand, laxatives such as Benefiber are natural laxatives with ingredients such as psyllium seed.  It isn't addictive and is safe even if you take it for long periods of time.  I don't know the price but it may be cheaper to buy psyllium seed and grind it up yourself. 

Or you can be like us not having to worry about shortages because we have plenty.