According to Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Michael Picco, fiber supplements are generally used to make your stool soft so that constipation isn’t an issue.
Bloating is a common side effect of taking fiber supplements — as well as gas and abdominal pain. Eating a lot of fiber-loaded foods, such as baked beans, cabbage, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, apples, peaches and pears, also has the same effect.
But fiber supplements can also hinder your body’s ability to absorb the medications you take and decrease blood sugar levels. When taken without drinking plenty of water, fiber can actually cause you to become more constipated.
Additional dangers associated with colon cleansing when combined with fasting detox diets include dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, cautions Harvard Medical School. A colon cleanse can even prevent your bowels from functioning normally.