The Best Time to Take Inulin & How to Take It

The importance of dietary fibre is widely recognised by the general public today, along with the importance of maintaining good digestive health, and how it can impact other aspects of our health such as weight management, blood glucose levels, the immune system, and even our mood.

Inulin is a prebiotic soluble fibre found in foods such as leeks, onions, garlic, asparagus, chicory root, bananas and artichokes. For many people it is difficult to get these whole foods consistently into our daily diet, and so prebiotic nutritional supplements such as Inulin become an attractive option.

Prebiotics help to support and feed the growth of the beneficial bacteria already present in our systems – improving the balance of intestinal flora for gut health. This helps to protect from toxins and bad bacteria that may be a cause of various digestive ailments.

But is there a best time to take it? And how much should you take?

Information on the required dosage varies widely, with recommendations reading anywhere up to 30g per day, but it largely depends upon the individual. Factors such as our age can also affect how much we need, as often digestion becomes more sluggish as we grow older.

As a guideline a dose of 8 – 12g per day of Inulin has been found to be the optimal amount for most to maintain a healthy digestive system.

We recommend a dose of 12g per day, but it is best to start out with a smaller amount per day; introducing it slowly to be sure it is well tolerated, and to avoid any discomfort or uncomfortable side effects such as gas or bloating. You can then gradually increase the dosage until you find your comfortable limit - again this varies from person to person.

Inulin is a very versatile product; given that prebiotics are normally a part of the food we eat, you may naturally want to take the supplement along with eating or drinking something else, though this is not necessary and it can be taken on its own. You can add it to water, juice, smoothies, or it can even be used in baking or other recipes to add extra fibre.

Prebiotics supplements unlike whole foods deliver a concentrated dose in a short period of time. In the case of someone that is suffering from constipation or bowel irregularity, the timing of taking their dose may require some careful consideration of their digestive habits and how it will fit into their normal routine; important as irregular trips to the toilet throughout the day can prove a source of frustration and difficult to manage, given our often busy lives.

When you choose to take your dose also depends on your own preference, but a regular daily dose for a normal adult is ideal to maintain digestive health. The key is to take this at a time of day ultimately that you will remember, and so gradually you will incorporate it habitually into your day. This will mean that you remain consistent in your routine, to ensure your digestive health is well supported, giving you and your body the most benefit.

If you want to add a quality prebiotic supplement such as Inulin to your diet you can visit our webstore to purchase or for more information click here. Our Inulin is an affordable option, sold in a quantity of 500g or 1kg, it is 100% vegetable origin, from Chicory root.