a preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail . as used in the description herein and throughout the claims , the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein , unless the context clearly dictates otherwise : the meaning of “ a ,” “ an ,” and “ the ” includes plural reference , the meaning of “ in ” includes “ in ” and “ on .” the present invention combines a soluble fiber and an insoluble fiber into a high fiber nutritional supplement . the nutritional supplement of the present invention preferably uses natural soluble fiber and natural insoluble fiber . it is more preferable to use inulin as the source of natural soluble fiber for the nutritional supplement of the present invention . it is preferable to use cellulose as the source of natural insoluble fiber for the nutritional supplement of the present invention . the nutritional supplement of the present invention preferably includes a soluble fiber component in the amount of 30 - 70 % by weight and an insoluble fiber component in the amount of 30 - 70 % by weight . one illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a soluble fiber component in the amount of 49 % by weight and an insoluble fiber component in the amount of 49 % by weight . another illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a second source of soluble fiber that functions as a stabilizer and improves formulation shelf life in the amount of 1 - 5 % by weight , more preferably 2 % by weight . the second source of soluble fiber may include xanthan gum . inulin , which is sold under the trademark frutafit ®, and is manufactured by imperial sensus , llc , is a natural functional food ingredient extracted from the root of the chicory plant , cichorium intybus , and is a readily soluble dietary fiber having neutral taste , odor and color . inulin is also referred to as ‘ polyfructose ’, ‘ fructan ’, or ‘ fructooligosaccharides ( fos )’. inulin is a polydisperse gfn molecule built as a linear chain of fructose units by means of β ( 2 - 1 ) bonds , having one terminal glucose molecule at each end , and provides exceptional gelling properties and a high water retention capacity . among its nutritional properties , inulin is low in calories ( 1 . 5 kcal / g ) insofar as it is not digested , reduces colonic ph , has a glycemic index of zero , having no influence on blood glucose nor stimulation of insulin excretion , and stimulates bifidus , inhibiting harmful bacteria and reducing toxins and carcinogens , while activating the immune system and providing for the synthesis of vitamins and improving mineral absorption . inulin is not digested , reaching the colon intact , to be hydrolyzed and fermented by beneficial caecal bacteria residing in the colon , producing short - chain fatty acids such as acetic , propionic and butyric acids . acetic and propionate acids are used by the liver for energy production , while butyric acid has demonstrated cancer - preventing properties within the intestine . inulin functions physiologically as a soluble dietary fiber but , unlike other soluble dietary fibers , inulin does not bind with metal and does not inhibit mineral absorption or interfere with the absorption of medications . short - chain fatty acids produced from inulin fermentation decrease intestinal ph and stimulate proliferation of colon epithelial cells , enhancing the absorption of certain cations ( particularly ca + 2 , as well as mg + 2 , cu + 2 , an + 2 and fe + 2 ). inulin provides significant intestinal health , digestion and well being functions , including enhanced fecal bulk and weight , increased fecal frequency , increased colon mucosal weight , reduced fecal ph , toxic and carcinogenic metabolites , reduction in serum lipids , reduction in blood cholesterol , increased hld / ldl ratio , reduction in glycemic response , amelioration in the derangements of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism , modification of composition and rate of production of secondary bile acids , improved mineral absorption , and modification of fecal microflora ( bifidus stimulation ). because inulin is not digested , arriving unchanged to the colon , it also serves as a prebiotic . beneficial bacteria , notably bifidobacteria and lactobacilli , use inulin for growth and proliferation . most pathogenic and putrefactive bacteria cannot break the bonds holding inulin together . multiplying beneficial bacteria reduce the ph level in the colon , making the environment uninhabitable for potentially harmful bacteria such as e . coli , clostridia , veillonella and klebsiella . the proliferation of beneficial bacteria provides significant health effects , including enhancing digestion and improves lactose intolerance , promoting the recycling of compounds such as estrogen , synthesizing vitamins , especially b - group vitamins , producing immune - stimulating compounds , inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria , reducing the production of toxins and carcinogens , restoring normal intestinal bacteria during antibiotic therapy , and reducing the potential for several pathologies commonly associated with higher numbers of pathogenic intestinal bacteria such as autoimmune illnesses such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis , certain cancers , yeast overgrowth , vaginitis , urinary tract infections , cirrhosis of the liver , food poisoning , antibiotic - associated diarrhea , inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and crohn &# 39 ; s disease , necrotizing entercolitis and ileocecitis , food allergy and intolerance , intestinal gas and bloating , and irritable bowel syndrome . the primary benefits of insoluble fiber in the digestive system include its ability to increase fecal weight and accelerate colonic transit . cellulose , specifically as an ultra - fine powder , is an insoluble fiber that draws water into the colon to increase fecal bulk , softening the stool for easier elimination . additionally , insoluble cellulose dilutes the concentration of potential carcinogens , reducing their exposure to the intestinal wall . powered cellulose may bind liquids by as much as ten times its weight in water ; however , by virtue of being inert , it does not interfere with the absorption of medications , minerals or vitamins . xanthan gum is a soluble , readily fermentable fiber . xanthan gum is a stabilizer , retains water , improves formulation shelf life and is highly resistant to enzymatic degradation . xanthan gum is a long chain polysaccharide , a polymer made of sugar subunits , like starch or cellulose . xanthan gum is composed of glucose , mannose and glucuronic acid , linked to form a strand of cellulose with trisaccharide side chains branching off every fifth cellulose sugar . xanthan gum has the consistency of cornstarch and is both soluble and indigestible . xanthan gum is produced by fermenting corn sugar with xanthomonas campestris bacteria . it is shown by the present invention that inulin can be blended with an insoluble fiber to form a nutritional supplement . to achieve the desired results of the present invention , specifically promoting bowel regularity and a generally healthy well being within the digestive system through the physiological effects of merging otherwise competing , or contradictory , systems , a limited , acceptable formulation is presented : ingredient percentage by weight powdered cellulose ( insoluble ) 30 - 70 inulin ( soluble ) 70 - 30 xanthan gum 01 - 05 ingredient percentage by weight powdered cellulose ( insoluble ) 49 inulin ( soluble ) 49 xanthan gum 02 the formulation of the present invention provides an optimal therapeutic dietary fiber regimen with the balanced combination of soluble and insoluble fibers and dispersing agents . the nutritional supplement of the present invention is formulated by first determining the total desired weight amount of the unique formulation of the present invention . the total required weight amount of each of the ingredients of the unique formulation of the present invention is then determined by ingredient ratio of the total desired weight amount . the measured amounts of the individual ingredients are combined in a mixing container and thoroughly blended , achieving the purpose of producing a uniform , quickly dispersing powder of the present invention . the measured amounts of the individual ingredients may be combined and agglomerated , achieving the purpose of producing a uniform , quickly dispersing powder of the present invention . no unique or extraordinary mixing or blending equipment is required to obtain the desired nutritional supplement . in one illustrative embodiment of the invention , powdered cellulose # 200 nf , 49 % by weight , is mixed with frutafit ®, 49 % by weight , and xanthan gum , 2 % by weight , in a sterile stainless steel drum and blended for two to six minutes under air heat at 60 to 150 degrees celcius . the resulting initial blend is sprayed with distilled water at a rate of 0 . 5 to 2 ml / minute for 30 - 40 minutes to form a second interim blend . this second interim blend is air dryed at 60 to 150 degrees celsius for 3 to 4 hours , until the moisture content is between 2 and 8 % to form a third interim product . this third interim product is sifted through a standard # 20 mesh screen to form a substantially homogenous powder blend having an extra fine particle size . when approximately 7 grams of the substantially homogenous powder blend is added to approximately 8 ounces of water and stirred for approximately 30 seconds and then passed through a standard # 20 mesh screen , no lumps , gels , or gritty product are retained by the screen . the substantially homogenous powder blend can be sold directly to consumers for use as a nutritional supplement , or it can be formed into tablets , including chewable tablets , capsules , chewable wafers , or cookies , using methods well known to those of skill in the art , and then sold to consumers for use as a nutritional supplement . to achieve the results indicated in the present invention , the preferred dosage is suggested to be one - quarter ounce ( 7 . 0875 grams ( 1 . 8 teaspoons )) of the substantially homogenous powder blend of the present invention , blended with six ounces of liquid , with soft food , or as a singular recipe ingredient for cooked or baked foods , providing 6 . 237 grams of dietary fiber . serving size 7 . 0875 grams ( 0 . 25 ounces ) calories 14 . 44 kcal carbohydrates 3 . 61 grams dietary fiber 7 . 09 grams all three components ( inulin , xanthan gum and powdered cellulose ) are considered dietary fiber , but only the inulin and xanthan gum are counted as total carbohydrates , per the 1990 nlea and 2 cfr 101 . 9 . calculations for pre - serving nutritional information , based on 7 . 0875 grams ( 0 . 25 ounces ) are : the above - described embodiments are given as illustrative examples only . it will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the invention . accordingly , the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above .
a nutritional supplement that includes a natural soluble fiber and a natural insoluble fiber is disclosed . the nutritional supplement includes an amount of a natural soluble fiber from 30 % to 70 % by weight , and an amount of a natural insoluble fiber from 30 % to 70 % by weight . the natural soluble fiber that is used is inulin , and the insoluble fiber that is used is cellulose . xanthan gum is added in a negligible amount and serves as a stabilizer and to improve shelf life by helping to resist enzymatic degradation . a method of preparing a nutritional supplement is also disclosed . the insoluble fiber and the soluble fiber are blended to form a substantially homogenous , quickly dispersing powder blend . the powder blend can then be formed into a capsule , tablet , or wafer , or alternatively can be used as a food or drink additive .