Frequently Asked Questions…

Why should consumers eat FIBER & Beyond Cookies™?

It’s an EASY and delicious way to lower cholesterol, maintain digestive health and consume fiber.  It’s about compliance.  Many people find it difficult to make and maintain the dietary and lifestyle changes needed to effectively manage their cholesterol. However, many people are able and willing to commit to eating two cookies a day to help ward off high cholesterol. In this busy world where preparing nutrition-conscious meals and snacks is not always possible, consumers have found that the individually wrapped tasty FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ are an outstanding way to snack or supplement a meal. FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ have proven to substantially lower cholesterol in clinical studies without changing or adding anything else to one’s daily routine.

Prove it.

They did. In a recent clinical study, FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in patients who ate two FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ each day for 30 days. Cholesterol levels will vary from individual to individual, but decreases up to 80 points were shown.

Why do FIBER & Beyond Cookies contain soluble fiber?

Because soluble fiber lowers cholesterol in two ways! 

• Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol levels by attaching to foods that are the most likely to raise cholesterol levels – saturated fat, trans-fat and cholesterol – and flushes them down the toilet!
• A diet high in soluble fiber helps the body remove cholesterol out of the arteries and use it in productive ways in the body – like to make bile which is the detergent-like substance that needs cholesterol to do its job. 

It’s more than regularity or just saying fiber “cleans you out.” Many health experts advise people of all ages to consume more dietary fiber - research indicates fiber may prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity (Johns Hopkins Medical Center).

Why plant sterols?

Plant sterols help block cholesterol from being absorbed during digestion.

So how do we get soluble fiber and plant sterols? 

Soluble fiber and plant sterols are found in plants.  Sounds easy enough, right?  Unfortunately the amount of soluble fiber and plant sterols needed to lower cholesterol is often not included in the typical diet and is tough to consume daily.
One way to get the desired plant sterols and soluble fiber would be to consume 3 cups of sunflower seeds and 3 cups of cooked oatmeal (totaling about 3000 calories with a cost of about $10 per day). Or you could consume 2 FIBER & Beyond Cookies each day (320 calories, $2 per day.)

Won’t adding cookies to my diet cause weight gain? 

The recent clinical study showed participants did not gain any weight from eating FIBER & Beyond Cookies™. Many customers tell RD Foods that they have actually lost weight since eating FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ regularly.  How? The high fiber content of the cookies not only prevents fat absorption, it also helps you feel fuller longer. Filling up on high-fiber foods means you'll have less room for highly caloric low-fiber foods (Dr. James Anderson, professor of Medicine and Clinical Nutrition and NFC chair).  Some researchers have calculated that if Americans doubled their intake of fiber, they could cut 100 calories from their daily diet - which could shave off 10 pounds of yearly weight gain (WebMD.com).

Why hasn’t anyone done this before?

Wendy Miller and Norman Null have created a new category of food products.  As registered dietitians, they understand the science behind soluble fiber and plant sterols. Consuming the amount of these active ingredients needed daily to effectively lower cholesterol can be extremely difficult. So, the duo decided to use soluble fiber and plant sterols together in a cookie to appeal to a wide range of consumers – from kids to adults to seniors.

How often should I eat the cookies for results? 

For cholesterol-lowering benefits we recommend eating 2 FIBER & Beyond Cookies per day. 

Can’t I eat other foods to get the same benefits?

FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ contain very favorable amounts of plant sterols, fat and soluble fiber specially developed to offer health benefits and satisfaction.  One food that contains plant sterols, fat and soluble fiber is sunflower seeds – but you’d have to eat 3 cups of them to get the advantageous amounts in two FIBER & Beyond Cookies™.

What’s so important about soluble fiber?  I think I eat plenty of fiber!

There are 2 kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble, each having their own benefits. 

• Insoluble fiber is plentiful in fruits, vegetables and grains.  The role of insoluble fiber is to push food through the digestive tract quickly.
• Soluble fiber is found in small amounts in fruits, vegetables and grains.  It is most plentiful in beans, oats and psyllium.  Its role is to collect fluids, cholesterol, and fats and form soft bulk to push food through the digestive tract slowly.  Soluble fiber is the only kind of fiber that can help the body to lower blood cholesterol levels.   

Who can eat FIBER & Beyond Cookies™?

• Anyone who wants to find out if they can lower their cholesterol levels through dietary means.
• Anyone looking for a healthy, filling, individually-wrapped snack they can bring anywhere.
• Anyone who has been told by their physician to add more fiber to their diet for GI issues such as irregularity, constipation, IBS, Crohn’s, or diverticulosis.
• Those seeking to include fiber-rich foods to aid in blood sugar control. 

Who should AVOID FIBER & Beyond Cookies?

• Anyone who has swallowing problems.  If you have questions, please speak with your physician.
• Vegans or vegetarians who avoid milk and eggs.
• Those allergic to milk, egg, wheat, oats, or psyllium.

Why are beverages recommended with FIBER & Beyond Cookies? 

FIBER & Beyond Cookies’ plentiful soluble fibers act like a sponge, drawing saliva to the cookie as you chew them.  Fluids keep your mouth and/or throat from feeling dry while consuming FIBER & Beyond Cookies.  For those with diagnosed swallowing disorders, check with your physician before consuming Right Direction Cookies.      

Can I eat FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ instead of taking my prescription cholesterol medication?

Patients taking prescribed cholesterol medication should not reduce or stop taking their medication without consulting their doctor. It is recommended that all medications be taken 2 hours before or 2 hours after consuming high fiber foods. Always consult your doctor about questions regarding medication.

How do I know FIBER & Beyond Cookies™ are improving my health?

If regularity has been an issue you will be likely to experience a positive change in your bowel habits as quickly as the first day you eat FIBER & BeyondCookies.  For cholesterol-lowering benefits check with your doctor about blood tests after as little as 4 weeks.  We recommend 2 cookies per day for optimal cholesterol-lowering benefits.