Written by Hannah Abdulla

What is it?

If you are on social media channels you may have seen ads for ColonBroom. The company was founded in 2008 and is recently gaining in popularity with claims to “flush your gut” and help users lose weight.1 The product comes in a strawberry flavored powder the user mixes with water and drinks 1-2 times daily before eating a meal.

When looking at the ingredient label of this product the main ingredient is psyllium husk powder, which is a soluble fiber. If you’re familiar with fiber supplements, you may recognize this ingredient from the product, Metamucil. There are a few additional ingredients in the product such as flavoring and stevia. This product contains 20 calories per scoop and 3 grams of dietary fiber. 

Potential Benefits

As mentioned above, the main ingredient in ColonBroom, psyllium husk, is dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is helpful in normalizing bowel movements, decreasing chance of constipation, and decreasing risk of hemorrhoids. We can go a little further in depth by discussing the types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble. Our body needs both of them for a variety of reasons. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is shown to be beneficial in decreasing cholesterol levels. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and instead remains intact as it travels through the digestive system (2)

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For the general public and without preexisting conditions, adding fiber to your diet will likely be beneficial.

A Dietitians Thoughts

There have been fiber supplements available at retail for years and we don’t think this one is much different. We do not see any harm in taking fiber supplements on occasion, however the majority of fiber should come from the diet. Dietary fiber can be found in foods such as apples, oats, beans, and vegetables. Eating a variety of these foods will provide you with an adequate amount of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

In summary, the Centers for Disease control recommends a daily amount of 38 grams of fiber for men under 50 years old, and 25 grams of fiber for women under 50 years old. ColonBroom only provides 3 grams of fiber per serving and costs $30 a canister. In other words, save your money and eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to receive an adequate amount of fiber, as well as many of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function optimally. 

1. Poop like a winner - lighten your gut. colonbroom.com. https://colonbroom.com/. Accessed January 22, 2023. 

2. How to add more fiber to your diet. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983. Published November 4, 2022. Accessed January 22, 2023.