Are you new to drinking fiber? Do you stick to the types that dissolve into nothing, or take psyllium capsules to avoid the experience altogether? Well, this product will likely prove too advanced for your sensibilities. This is for real men and women who understand that the ends justify the means in the fiber world. Not sure into which category you fall? Continue reading.So, like many folks in fiberdom, I've typically used Metamucil in the past. Having completely gone through my stockpile of the orange-flavored sugar-free stuff, I decided to go back to what Metamucil refers to as the unflavored "coarse texture", which is what I used to take years ago. While not as easy to drink, it was a true power house, if you know what I mean. In looking for it this time, though, I noticed it has added sugar. Really? I don't know why they feel the need to sweeten something unflavored, especially when psyllium isn't bitter. Well, not wanting the unnecessary empty carbs, I decided to try something altogether new. Hence, I looked at all the whole husk psyllium options and settled on Now, given both the reviews and my positive history with the brand.To go back a little further, I started taking fiber over 20 years ago when I was working out all the time and eating on a high-protein diet. Needless to say, fiber made my time in the bathroom much more pleasant. It was then I quickly learned that dosing a 12oz glass of water and taking your time to stir it well led to something that I really didn't want to drink. You basically get a glass of swelled, nearly-flavorless sludge that you have to chug down. It didn't take long before I put a double dose into a rocks glass, stirred just enough to integrate, chugged immediately, and chased with plenty of water. (This method, while much less painless, is apparently not recommended due to it being a "choking hazard". Don't really see how you could choke, but to each their own.)Having said all that, my first experience with the Now whole-husk was fairly close to what I remembered from Metamucil's original unflavored coarse texture. I put a heaping tablespoon into a rocks glass and stirred quickly. It clumped a bit at first, almost like the stuff was hydrophobic. It ingrated quickly enough, though, and I tossed it back immediately. Yeah, I remember this taste. It has that kind of nondescript, bland cereal thing going on. While scoring quite low on the yummy-meter, it's not necessarily unpleasant, either. I then chased it with a big glass of water, swishing well to get the grit out of my teeth, refilled the glass, and left it in the sink. (Pro tip: Any "grit" left in an empty glass will dry and stick like little bits of concrete. I let the glass sit with water in it allowing any remaining fiber bits to swell, and then go back to wash it after.)Ok, at this point I've taken my first dose, so the only thing to do now is wait. Like I said at the begining, when it comes to fiber, the ends justify the means. For those that don't know, the "ends" I'm referring to is an oddly satisfying, quite large, and very clean poop. (If you know, you know.) Well, fast-forward to the next morning, and I'm eventually greeted by that all-too-familar "oh damn, it's that time" feeling. (Know what I mean, Vern?) So I sit down, give one long, relatively easy push, and viola. Done. The monster I left behind me was not angry. It had no teeth. It was simply a very polite gentle giant that was more than happy to incorporate all the rowdy characters in my bowels and exit the party with them in a very considerate manner. Such a gentleman.For those of you who have never taken "coarse" or whole-husk psyllium, it is far more effective then the fine-textured stuff. Is it a little less fun to take? Perhaps. Is the experience worth it, though? Oh yes, my friend. If you're not sure, go ahead and give it a shot anyway. A pound of this stuff is very reasonably priced, and it's well worth trying out. If you're an old pro like me, this is a no-brainer. Happy gut, happy butt. What more could you ask for in such a fiercely fearless fibrous friend? Not much as far as I'm concerned. We're biffles for sure, and if this were the days of MySpace, he'd definitely be in my Top 8.***Oh, and if you are new to fiber, make sure you do your research on how it can impede the effectiveness of supplements and medications, if taken too close together. I usually take my vitamins and evening medications immediately before or after dinner, and then I take fiber right before bed. If I'm watching my weight, I'll sometimes take fiber before dinner, in which case I wait until I go to bed to take my vitamins and meds. If you're just just taking a few psyllium caps, this isn't an issue. If you're taking a full dose of whole-husk/powdered and mixing it with water, though, you need to keep tining in mind.