Of the many health benefits of fiber, that of eliminating constipation is probably the earliest to be known. Although not openly talked about in the past, constipation is a common digestive discomfort that is now getting the needed medical attention and cure.

Other benefits to the digestive system include: Regulating bowel movement, expelling body toxins, cleaning the colon and intestines, flushing intestinal worms, alleviating hemorrhoids, relieving indigestion, reducing flatulence (wind), treating colic and gastritis, easing abdominal bloating, and controlling diarrhea as it absorbs water.

Similarly, fiber is proven to help reduce the risk of heart disease as it reduces cholesterol by binding cholesterol secreted in bile acids and excreting it before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. In fact, the approved National Heart Foundation, American Heart Association and USFDA Statement of product claim reads: "Eating soluble fiber from foods such as Psyllium husk as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol together with regular exercise may reduce the risk of heart diseases." As a natural fat absorber, it also helps reduce weight.

Fiber has also been discovered to lower blood glucose. It improves glucose tolerance in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Studies revealed that soluble fibers reduce the gastric emptying and thereby reduces the rate of sugar absorption, allowing time for insulin to properly metabolize sugar.

More recently, there have been findings that high-fiber foods can help lessen the likelihood of cancer, citing the relationship between diet and cancer. Researchers determined that fiber is particularly important in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.

With the expanding range of benefits attributed to the increased intake of fiber, people were soon loading up on fiber, knowing full well the advantages that go with it. Although fruits and vegetables are the more popular sources of fiber, health conscious people also modified their diets to include other plant foods such as wheat bread, whole grain products, beans, nuts and seeds to provide the fibre essential to good health.

The need for fiber health supplements among Filipinos was initially filled in by C-Lium Fibre, the first supplement to be introduced to the Philippine market in 2001, made available through Mercury Drug and other drugstores.

"We are a meat eating nation and consequently we are challenged to take sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables – the primary sources of fiber. Also, our lifestyle is very Western and gravitates towards fast foods. Our diet simply does not contain enough roughage to help assist the digestive system," explained Albert MG Garcia, president and CEO of Garsworth Marketing Inc., which imports and markets C-Lium Fibre.

This observation enabled C-Lium Fibre to address a health concern and supply a demand for a product that would extend the benefits of fiber to more people. It is 100 percent Psyllium Fibre, known to be possibly the best food fiber in the world. The fact that it is also 100 percent natural and organic made C-Lium Fibre even more credible as a health supplement. It is gluten free, with no preservatives, no additives, no sweeteners and no artificial flavors.

A fiber supplement must have evidence of fiber to be able to truly deliver optimum and multiple health benefits. And for an item to be considered a "source," it must contain 2g of fiber per serving. A "high source" would contain at least 4g and an "excellent source" would have 6g of fiber per serving. The recommended daily dose of C-Lium Fibre – one tablespoon of powder mix, contains 5g of soluble fiber.