This is a repeat of an old blog that originally appeared on April 23, 2008. Since I don’t have much content on the new Wordpress, I figured I’d share it again. I don’t know what I was thinking when I wrote this, but I am oddly proud of this piece. I hope you enjoy it!
Fiber is a natural supplement that brings outright joy to millions of people around the world every day. In times of hardship (pun entirely intended), fiber always comes through (also intended) for the human race.
While the benefits of fiber are usually seen as fairly simple – if you eat it or drink it, you observe a productive bathroom experience – I have found that the benefits of fiber extend far beyond the workings of the digestive system.
As I pursued a fourteen day “Cleanse,” or the whole foods community’s way of purging toxins from the body by use of daily supplements and diet changes, I noticed several changes in my body and its habits. Blemishes on my skin disappeared, I felt less groggy in the morning, and, most strangely, I could not leave a mark on toilet paper, even with accelerated effort.
Even if the FDA continues to refuse to inform me that the Cleanse treats, cures, or prevents any disease, I know of no other shower, scrubber, or personal hygiene product which could cause a person to feel cleaner than I did after those fourteen days.
Since the main ingredient in the Cleanse was fiber, I began to experiment with a daily regimen of psyllium seed husks drinks. Whole psyllium husks come in a tub and mix with water for daily fiber greatness. They can be purchased at many ordinary health food stores. Many of the popular varieties of psyllium husks fiber, such as Metamucil, combine the psyllium seed husks with unnecessary other ingredients such as dyes, sugars, and citric acid. If the husks are combined with the extra ingredients, there is less fiber per tablespoon than if it is plain. No fiber product tastes outstanding, so I assume the best choice is to ditch the artificially added ingredients as half a glass of torture is better than two full glasses of disguised torture.
“Torture” is definitely an exaggeration. Fiber is tasteless for the most part. The texture is a different story.
As I continued to consume a high fiber diet, I continued to reap the same benefits that resulted from the Cleanse. Every time I would visit the bathroom, no matter what I had eaten, I would experience what in previous years used to be eloquently known as the occasional “Holy S…”
As time passed, I grew more and more curious as to what the implications of my new diet would be. On one lazy afternoon, I decided to whip out a calculator and notepad to see how fiber changed my life.
The results of my amateur study present an entirely new direction for the modern technological campaign to get everyone to “go paperless.”
*Note: The statistics used in this report regarding the weight, sheets of paper, and toilet paper manufacturing are probably only correct regarding specific brands of paper as I have seen conflicting statistics everywhere on the Internet. The general results, not necessarily the numbers should be considered for review.
Before my new fiber regimen, I used about 10-12 toilet paper sheet singlets per trip to the bathroom, conservatively.
After I commenced the new high fiber diet, my need for toilet paper has diminished almost entirely, though I still consistently use an average of about two singlets for confirmation and security purposes.
This marks an 84 percent decrease in my overall use of toilet paper.
As there are 200 individual toilet paper sheet singlets in a normal domestic household roll, my previous daily use of 10-12 singlets was about two toilet paper rolls a month, or about a Costco-sized pack of twenty-four toilet paper rolls in one year’s time.
At my new rate of two toilet paper sheet singlets a day, it will take me at least 6.5 years to use one Costco-sized pack.
Since toilet paper requires monetary, plastic, and paper resources that are, in the end, literally “flushed down the toilet,” there is great potential for dietary and lifestyle adjustments that help reduce the waste associated with waste.
There are great economic implications for such a reduction in throw-away resources. As my current toilet paper use will require a 24 pack of toilet paper in 6.5 years, my total toilet paper fixed cost is only $2.50 a year.
As one Internet statistic from the Canadian government claims that 2,000 lbs of toilet paper can be produced from 20 trees, and since a brand of two-ply toilet paper weighs approximately 0.18 lbs, my old rate of TP consumption could have wasted 259.2 pounds of paper, or roughly three trees in sixty years time.
The fiber feel good life that I am currently sustaining will lead to much less toilet paper consumption and, if continued, will only result in the waste of only half of one tree over sixty years time.
While wasting trees is not necessarily a glaring issue as Charmin claims that they plant five new trees for a single tree used for toilet paper purposes, the resources (fossil fuels, man power, land) that are wasted while harvesting and planting trees will continue to exacerbate other larger issues, such as climate change.
As Costco-sized packs of TP are bundled in shrink wrapped plastics, my reduction in Wipery will also spare the fossil fuels necessary to create 50.9 plastics, and will prevent the depositing of those plastics back into the Earth.
Time is also a precious resource. A fibered-up visit to the old water closet takes me substantially less time than ones that are not. Of course, results may vary.
The Conclusion
Fiber leads to a better life. It saves money ($900 over sixty years), resources (2.5 trees, 50.9 plastics, fossil fuels, man power, and land over sixty years), time, and provides health benefits. In addition, it pays for itself.
As my fiber cans cost $4.99 every three months, the gap in toilet paper spending between pre-fiber vs. post-fiber periods will allow for a net four cent return on my annual fiber plus paper purchases. I will invest these funds wisely.
With this article, I encourage readers to start looking at all the subtleties of their life to measure their impact over time. You may be surprised of the results.
Cut pollution, save resources, and start feeling better with Psyllium Seed Husks Fiber!
I accept Nobel Prize nominations by mail. Address relinquished upon request.
Fiber Tips
1.) Consult your doctor before changing diets. Though I know of no problems with high fiber intake, I also did not go to medical school. As a personal injury law intern, I am also not a fan of liability for mishaps caused by faulty advice.
2.) Psyllium seed husks have an uncanny absorption quality that causes the husks to swell when introduced to the liquid of your choice. For this reason, it is important to mix the husks well with liquid and to drink it “bottom’s up” style immediately upon mixing. I would suggest not using the coldest water from the fridge as it tends to give headaches when consumed in a rapid fashion.
3.) Have an extra glass of water handy after you drink the fiber solution. Sometimes extra seed husks will get caught in the back of your throat as you drink, and as they swell, they can cause breathing, gagging, and swallowing difficulties. A glass of water to follow could prevent choking.
4.) Take fiber daily. Many people take a very lackadaisical approach to taking supplements. Fiber benefits can be seen immediately, but the better effects such as the clearing of skin blemishes (an opinion, not an FDA claim) are only seen after frequent and repeated use.
5.) Take fiber once a day at a point that is about halfway between breakfast and lunch. I have read some reports which have claimed that heavy fiber consumption at the time of a meal can hurry food through the digestive system, hindering the body’s ability to reap the maximum amount of nutrients from the food.
6.) Enjoy your better, more efficient life!
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