Psyllium is (mainly) a polysaccharide mucilage.  Fiber is (mainly) a
cellulosics / lignin complex.

Metamucil is a frightfully expensive packaging of not very much psyllium.
Exlax is (I believe, but have not verified) a confection of eating chocolate
with some phenolphthalein in it.

Envirocordial Greetings   Geoff


-----Original Message-----
From: S.B. Feldman <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, October 06, 1998 7:32 AM
Subject: [P-F] psyllium


>In a message dated 10/1/98 2:08:29 PM EST, [log in to unmask]
>writes:
>
><< .  Calling it
> 'fiber' is false, but reassuring to ignoramuses.
>
>  ---  Do NOT buy expensive drugs like Exlax or
> Metamucil, some of which produce moisture by irritating the gut wal >>
>>
>
>....produce moisture by irritating the gut wall----what sort of fantasy if
>this?.....and what else would one call psyllium, if not fiber? how else
does
>one reassure an ignoramus?
>