Botanical: Pisum sativum
Family: Fabaceae (pea) - Leguminosae (legume)

Pea Fiber supplements are a simple way to supply our diets with both soluble and insoluble natural fiber. A fiber rich diet is thought to provide many healthful benefits, including gastrointestinal well-being, proper bowel function (including relief for constipation and diverticulosis) and may also reduce our risk of colon cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History:
The modern garden pea is thought to be descended from the field pea that was indigenous to central Asia and Europe, and has been consumed as a healthy dietary addition for thousands of years. Peas are considered legumes, plants that bear fruit in the form of pods, enclosing the fleshy seeds, and are one of the few members of the legume family that are sold and cooked as fresh vegetables. It is interesting to note that high-fiber foods are mostly low in calories and inexpensive. Today, the largest commercial producers of fresh peas are the United States, Great Britain, China, Hungary and India. Peas provide one of the highest sources of natural soluble and insoluble dietary fibers known, and since the National Cancer Institute suggests that dietary fiber can be protective against some cancer, taking Pea Fiber supplements may provide the fiber that is lacking in our regular diets. Americans generally consume ten grams of fiber per day, and the National Cancer Institute recommends at least twenty grams daily. Fiber isn't a miracle food, but adding fiber to your diet may provide surprising and wonderful health benefits.

Beneficial Uses:
Pea Fiber may help to improve cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol. Fiber is credited with helping to lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood and may thus help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies of high-fiber diets have shown dramatic benefits provided by high-fiber foods. In one study, two groups of people were fed different amounts of high-fiber foods. The high-fiber group reduced their total cholesterol by nearly seven percent, their triglyceride levels by over ten percent and their VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein, the most dangerous form of cholesterol) by over twelve percent. Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in the digestive tract that binds bile (which contains cholesterol) and carries it out of the body. In India, clinical studies demonstrated that Peas have the ability to dissolve blood clots, which may also be of help in improving blood circulation, another factor affecting cardiovascular health.

The National Cancer Institute suggests that fiber may be protective against some cancers, particularly colon cancer, and Pea Fiber provides one of highest sources of natural dietary fiber. A diet rich in fiber is essential for gastrointestinal well being and proper bowel function; it not only is said to help increase stool bulk and prevent constipation, but it may also help to prevent digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis.

Pea Fiber may be beneficial to diabetics as a way to stabilize their blood sugar levels, since fiber intake has been shown to control intestinal glucose absorption. People with insulin resistance, hypoglycemia or diabetes may benefit from high-fiber intake by balancing blood sugar levels while providing steady, slow-burning energy. Researchers compared two groups of people with type-II diabetes who were fed different amounts of high fiber foods. One group ate the standard American Diabetic diet, which contains twenty-four grams of fiber per day, while the other group ate a diet containing fifty grams of fiber per day. Those who ate the diet higher in fiber had lower levels of both plasma glucose (blood sugar) and insulin (the hormone that helps blood sugar get into cells). Danish research demonstrated that when Pea Fiber was consumed, blood glucose levels did not rise and fall as rapidly or as severely as they did in response to other food fibers and was superior in its actions even to sugar beet fiber or wheat bran, and it is interesting to note that in Europe, doctors already prescribe sugar beet fiber for diabetics and celiac patients. According to the United States General Services Administration Federal Citizen Information Center, studies indicate that foods with fiber (particularly peas, beans, etc.) help to lower blood glucose, and because we should consume much more fiber than the average American now consumes to get this benefit, Pea Fiber supplements may provide an uncomplicated and simple way to achieve this nutritional benefit.

By absorbing water (and fats) in the intestinal tract and increasing stool bulk, the bulking action of Pea Fiber may also help in weight loss programs by filling the intestines and giving one the feeling of fullness and reducing the appetite.

Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) to two (2) capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Currently, there are no known warnings or contraindications noted with the use of Pea Fiber.

Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison)

• Pea Fiber - Botanical Powder -- Approximately 600 mg. each