PSA - Fiber One Bars

toddgaines
toddgaines Posts: 130
edited September 23 in Food and Nutrition
So I'm constantly in search of healthier snacks that fill me up, give me energy, are convenient, and of course also taste good. I recently discovered fiber one bars. They are filled with healthy fiber, you can take them anywhere, calories aren't too bad, and they taste great. So I started making them a regular part of my daily routine.

Then I started noticing something... something BAD. My stomach starting gurgling like mad, and I started developing gas and bloating like you wouldn't believe. I tried changing my diet as I've had some issues with Milk products in the past. So I cut those out. I tried cutting out carbonation, I tried everything.

So I finally narrowed it down to a few potential items and yesterday I did a quick google search on fiber one bars to see if anyone on the internet had anything to say about them. And guess what I found, hundreds of sites saying that fiber one bars had been giving people explosive farts! It's pretty much like the Mentos in the pop bottle phenomenon but in your stomach. There is really no scientific explanation given and people have actually written General Mills and received a response thanking them for their feedback, but with no real acknowledgment of the phenomenon.

Anyway, I just thought this was important to share. The bars are so delicious, but I suggest avoiding them unless you want to scare away everyone within earshot .. or nose shot for that matter!

Here is a link to a funny article about this: http://www.pleasegodno.com/archives/66-Fiber-One-Bars-make-me-Fart.html
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Replies

  • ashlee954
    ashlee954 Posts: 1,112 Member
    Well fiber period causes bloating and gas. So this is not surprising! LOL!
  • mjb123
    mjb123 Posts: 19
    The same thing happened to me! Stay away from those!
  • ersulas
    ersulas Posts: 28 Member
    Hahaha Thanks for sharing!
  • eyeballer
    eyeballer Posts: 50
    A few of us in my office refer to them as "fart bars." So we know what you are talking about!
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Fiber One bars are not that healthy for you.

    Filled with artificial sweeteners and chemicals.

    Why not just eat more vegetables to get the fiber you need? Grain based fiber is bad for your insides. It is like taking steel wool to your stomach, intestines and colon. Grains can actually puncture holes into your insides - where is the health in that?
  • Srbaby32
    Srbaby32 Posts: 6 Member
    You know I had noticed that same thing! I've also noticed it when I was doing slim fast. I don't know if it's what they put into those bars that make them that way, no clue. It's especially NOT a good thing if you're going to the gym and trying to hold it in.. just saying. lol
  • jodes4401
    jodes4401 Posts: 11 Member
    :flowerforyou: Totally noticed that too...which is a huge bummer...cuz they taste great!
  • Enigmatica
    Enigmatica Posts: 879 Member
    That's a bizarre combination of horrible and hilarious! Oh well. I've read that some people have problems with fiber, or with certain types of fiber. I've eaten Fiber One products daily or multiple times daily for 2-3 years and never had any such issues.
  • mallorybriann
    mallorybriann Posts: 1,380 Member
    I signed up for a free sample of those and thought "wow, these are SO good." Then, like you, my stomach was a mess. NEVER EVER AGAIN!
  • RodSurly
    RodSurly Posts: 42 Member
    Had the same experience. Congrats on your progress toward your goal.
  • AllDayMzAmberJ
    AllDayMzAmberJ Posts: 46 Member
    I have noticed the same thing! OMG

    I also eat a lot of fiber on a daily basis (including double fiber bread, veggies, etc).. but when I ate the regular oats and chocolate fiber one bars, my tummy went crazy. Thought it was just me, great to see it's something with the bars. LOL
  • udallmom101
    udallmom101 Posts: 564 Member
    That's a bizarre combination of horrible and hilarious! Oh well. I've read that some people have problems with fiber, or with certain types of fiber. I've eaten Fiber One products daily or multiple times daily for 2-3 years and never had any such issues.

    I have never had any problems with them either. I do put them in my diet and think I am doing very well with my weight loss.
  • ashie075
    ashie075 Posts: 8 Member
    I actually tend to think that the stomach issues are not so much from the fibre but from all the artificial sweeteners. Those tend to give people more gas/stomach problems as our bodies have a terrible time breaking those sweeteners down or so says my nutrition prof. Just my two cents :)
  • sandram82
    sandram82 Posts: 615 Member
    Fiber one bars do taste great.. but yes some have that problem.. not all of us.. for me.. its a good snack.. but it is more than a 100 cal snack.. so I have limited my intake on those for that reason, I am a chocolate lover, which I am avoiding now that I am on a new healthier lifestyle, I did find Jello chocolate mousse temptations that are only 60 cals and taste great!! Also Jello no sugar added cups with only 5 cals each.. plus there are lots of quaker 100 calorie snack bars and fruit cups with low calories also. All great snacks that can be good when your on the go!
  • tenessaa
    tenessaa Posts: 105 Member
    Haven't had a problem with them. I rotate between granola bars and this is one I like...glad it doesn't have the same effect lol-
  • CombatVet_Armywife
    CombatVet_Armywife Posts: 300 Member
    Lol, not to laugh at you, but this is funny.

    I actually have eaten these bars for quite some time, not often, but anytime I'm in a rush and know I'll be needing something to tide me over until I can eat something. Luckily, I have NEVER had that experience from them....thankfully!

    Yeah, yeah, yeah, they've got artificial sweeteners and blah blah blah. There are times I don't have a chance (like being surrounded by people or running late) to eat an apple, peel an orange, munch on carrots, etc. So I found these to suit the needs I intended it for. MUCH better than a MILLION other options that are this quick and simple.

    Bummer others have had the uncomfortable experience since they are so yummy! Kudos to you for providing the information for others to read! Great use of the message boards! :happy:
  • cjs22
    cjs22 Posts: 13 Member
    Ya that is why I quit eating those. Fiber in other foods don't make me feel that horrible!
    One time, my brother in law, thinking they were plain ol granola bars, ate an entire box! Needless to say, he was in pain for DAYS. Or should I say my sister was???? hahaha
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    Yikes! That's why I try to avoid as much processed foods as possible!
  • Stefani74
    Stefani74 Posts: 448 Member
    My husband cannot eat ANYTHING from Fiber One! His body can't tolerate the extra fiber. I on the other hand could eat an entire box of the bars with no problem.
  • Jourdan_Rystrom
    Jourdan_Rystrom Posts: 176 Member
    Lol lol...yeah my Fiber One Farts aren't only loud, but they smell!!!
  • hardybelle83
    hardybelle83 Posts: 57
    It's the chicory root in them... lots of products add that in there for the extra fiber content, but a lot of people's digestive systems (mine included) cannot tolerate it. Not to mention all the other artificial junk in them. But, definitely, if you have a sensitive system, avoid those "Fiber" products that have chicory root as one of the first few ingredients... DANGER!
  • FORKDOWN
    FORKDOWN Posts: 1,754
    I was being affected by them last week on the way home from bowling. 65 mph with 2 windows down and a outside temperature of 13 degrees. All I could do was apologize to my buddy. I never eat them if I have a business meeting or a date night with Wifey.

    :bigsmile:
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I personally think it's the chicory that they contain. I used to eat them but they just don't work well when doing Taekwondo!

    Well, I never tried the jumping kicks after eating one. Maybe I would've jumped higher! Lol!
  • NikkisNewStart
    NikkisNewStart Posts: 1,075 Member
    I wonder if the same applies to the Kellogg's Fiber Plus bars? Has anyone experienced that? I do not eat them that often- but I'll have one every now and then. Thanks for the PSA!
  • vanishingirl77
    vanishingirl77 Posts: 37
    They've never affected me negatively, but I only have one or even less a day....

    BUT, my husband got up in the middle of the night a few nights ago and ate about 6 of them in a five minute time frame as a midnight snack...not thinking about the fiber part.

    So the next morning, when he was complaining that he was getting sick...while eating a Fiber One bar, I asked him how many he had eaten....and then after he told me I just laughed and laughed.
  • lesliemk
    lesliemk Posts: 382 Member
    I steer clear of anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup in it (and any sort of hydrogenated oils), so these are a no-no on my list. You could actually make your own "fiber bars" though if you really wanted. Some rolled oats, chopped nuts, seeds, dates or raisins, organic dark chocolate chips, honey, etc... Yummy!

    Otherwise, we do like the Sunrise Energy bars from Costco. Lots of fiber and lots of good ingredients.
  • FORKDOWN
    FORKDOWN Posts: 1,754
    I wonder if the same applies to the Kellogg's Fiber Plus bars? Has anyone experienced that? I do not eat them that often- but I'll have one every now and then. Thanks for the PSA!

    I find them to just as effective w/less side effect.
  • beckijtn
    beckijtn Posts: 18
    Hilarious! but I can totally relate. I have IBS and steer clear of ANYTHING with the "rough fiber". :embarassed:
  • Enigmatica
    Enigmatica Posts: 879 Member
    I was being affected by them last week on the way home from bowling. 65 mph with 2 windows down and a outside temperature of 13 degrees. All I could do was apologize to my buddy. I never eat them if I have a business meeting or a date night with Wifey.

    :bigsmile:

    That made me laugh SO hard!
  • elainegsd
    elainegsd Posts: 459 Member
    Add me to the "never had a problem" list. I have a couple stashed in my car as emergency snacks, and eat about 1-2 bars per week. I also have Kellogs Bran Buds cereal with my breakfast each morning. I don't recall ever having a problem with either type of fiber, I only have problems when I don't get ENOUGH fiber!
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