We analyzed hundreds of Colon Broom reviews on Amazon, Reddit, and elsewhere online to find out if this dietary supplement works. We didn’t find anyone saying they lost significant weight using ColonBroom who also wasn’t getting paid to promote the product. But we did find some interesting info on what’s similar to ColonBroom, and what benefits it has.
(On that note, we are one of the only websites rounding up ColonBroom reviews that ISN’T posting affiliate links if you buy this product! Our only incentive is to get you the best information.)
We have broken down the reviews into the categories listed below, and included excerpts from real people in their own words. The biggest question we want to answer for you: Does ColonBroom work? The answer: It depends on what you mean by “work.” (Of course.)
If you want to jump to the reviews from people in their own words, click below.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ColonBroom vs. Metamucil: Is This Your Grandmothers Fiber + Updated Marketing?
- After Bad Press, ColonBroom Ended Up Reversing Many of It’s Weight Loss Claims
- Reviews from People In Their Own Words
- The Basics: How It Works, Side Effects
ColonBroom vs. Metamucil: Is This Your Grandmothers Fiber + Updated Marketing?
The bottom line: ColonBroom is made with psyllium husk, the same active ingredient as Metamucil. Yes, that’s the daily fiber supplement that’s been around since 1934. (For more details on what psyllium husk is and why fiber is good for your health, click here.) ColonBroom is essentially the same thing, but with marketing targeted to millennials and Gen Z, especially through TikTok influencers.
One big difference? The cost. ColonBroom costs nearly $6 per ounce of powder on Amazon in the US, while Metamucil costs just over $1 per ounce of power.
One positive that ColonBroom reviews mentioned in our analysis is its taste. So, while you would be paying six times more for ColonBroom to essentially get the same active ingredient as Metamucil, you might like the flavor of ColonBroom more.
The biggest ingredient difference between ColonBroom and Metamucil is added sea salt in ColonBroom, and the use of more technically natural ingredients. ColonBroom also says their formulation works faster: “And, not to brag, but our product is highly effective and doesn’t take much time to take effect…*whispers* unlike some other products in the market…” But that could be caused by additional salt included in ColonBroom, which can cause swift bowel movements.
ColonBroom has “natural flavor,” stevia leaf extract (a zero-calorie natural sweetener), crystallized lemon (powdered lemon juice or lemon oil), citric acid, sea salt, “fruit & vegetable juice” for color, and rice hulls ground into a powder to keep ColonBroom from lumping up. In contrast, traditional Metamucil has natural and artificial orange flavors, and artificial sweeteners maltodextrin and aspartame. However, there are also versions on Metamucil that use real sugar or stevia.
Lastly, ColonBroom is technically a Lithuanian company, managed by a European venture capital fund that specializes in making slick-looking health products. Metamucil is manufactured by mega-corporation Proctor & Gamble.
After Bad Press, ColonBroom Ended Up Reversing Many of It’s Weight Loss Claims
When you dig into the fine print, ColonBroom’s website has a lot of caveats about exactly how much weight you will lose: “No supplement will replace good nutrition and no supplement will solve the problems caused by bad nutrition. No supplement alone is capable to make the weight disappear.”
This is after a January 2023 report from Insider, which found extreme weight loss claims made via ColonBroom’s online quiz: “Insider described a hypothetical 5’8″ woman who was 250 pounds and had a goal weight of 100 pounds. The site suggested that the 150 pounds difference could be lost in five weeks, losing 90 pounds in the first two.”
After being contacted by the Insider reporters, the company removed some of its TikTok ads. They also told Insider that “the company’s main goal was not to encourage weight loss, but address ‘the fiber gap’ in the US. …’Currently, we have stopped distributing the ads that were considered inappropriate, as we see that the message we wanted to transmit was not clear.'”
Of course, the company had spent millions buying ads from influencers on TikTok at that point, and many featured women saying or implying they had lost weight by taking ColonBroom.
Reviews from People in Their Own Words
It’s not all bad news for ColonBroom! Fiber is an important part of the diet, and there are a lot of health benefits that can come with getting enough of it. (See details here.) In general, people liked the taste of ColonBroom, and felt like it helped them have bowel movements more regularly.
Below are reviews from people in their own words, broken down into relevant categories. While we can’t guarantee their accuracy, we’ve done our best to only include reviews that highlighted trends we saw in our analysis.
Weight Loss Comments:
“I think the big key here is what you are using it for. If you believe their marketing ads that say things like ‘lose 13 pounds of poop’ and think your love handles will disappear (like they want you to think) then you will be disappointed.”
“As for weight loss I would say you would prob have to take this for three months to see TRUE results.”
Feeling Better Comments:
“I had a baby almost a year ago and lost weight initially but then it just stopped. I thought I’d give this a try and I am not disappointed. While im not sure how much weight I have lost, im not even a full month in and I feel lighter, less bloated, and my clothes are fitting much looser. I’ve also noticed I am not hungry as much as before so it definitely is curbing my appetite.”
“…it definitely can keep you full if you don’t like to eat breakfast
“this gave me natural energy not like the crash and burn kind of energy from coffee”
“If you are someone who doesn’t get enough fiber in their diet and just wants a way to get that in this stuff is great for that.”
Side Effects / Bloating Comments:
“Overall I think regular psyllium husk caplets offer a better result without the weird adjustment period. The first morning I tried it I followed up with another bottle of water and was miserable for the next couple hours…”
“The hardest part was remembering to drink it 30 minutes before eating. I would forget and drink it with my meal or after my meal. I do not eat at a specific time with my work schedule, so it made it hard. I do not think the powder product works for me. I went ahead and purchased the pills for the same company to try that way, because I think the pills will be easier for my schedule.”
Taste Comments:
“Biggest Pros – tastes great, works well keeping you fiber filled and regular”
“The taste was not that bad, and I was able to drink it easily. Like most of these drinks can be a little chalky.”
“Plus it actually tastes good. I recommend!
“The flavor is pleasant, texture is good”
“Great taste and was easy to mix into water”
“I have chronic idiopathic, constipation, and this stuff, taste way better than MiraLAX or Metamucil, and does not get thick and weird consistency! Worth the money!”
Cost Comments:
“Biggest Con – The price and the somewhat deceptive marketing. You can probably achieve the exact same thing using regular fiber (various products/companies) at half the cost. For me the price tag made me use it where as I don’t always use fiber otherwise but I’m not sure the price can keep me around for the long term. Overall I do think it’s worth a try if you are committed to taking it twice a day as recommended and with appropriate expectations.”
“The cost was a little higher than I wanted but I was willing to try it”
“Even if this product was a quarter of the price, I wouldn’t buy it again. Someone in another review said they just went back to using smooth move tea, and I agree – consistent results. I don’t have any issues with irregularity, but I like to do a cleanse when I come back from vacationing. I thought this would be a great product for that, completely disappointed.
The Basics: How It Works, Side Effects
The main ingredient in both ColonBroom and Metamucil is psyllium husk, a natural fiber that comes from the plant known as plantago ovata.
According to Metamucil, the psyllium husk they use becomes like a gel in the digestive tract, trapping “some bile acids…carbohydrates and sugars” and either removes them or allows them “to be more slowly absorbed by the body.” This is what Metamucil says can help users feel less hungry between meals and can improve “digestive health.”
Psyllium husk is a soluble fiber, meaning it turns into a gel that can act as a sponge, getting rid of fat or cholesterol. (There are numerous studies that show increased fiber intake can reduce cholesterol levels and improve your overall health.) Both soluble and insoluble fiber are an important part of a healthy diet and one way to improve your overall gut health. And gut health can be important for your immune system. According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, your gut is a major producer of antimicrobial proteins.
Fiber can also help manage your blood sugar levels. The CDC says it is the “carb that helps you manage diabetes.” That’s because the body can’t break down fiber (soluble or insoluble), so it doesn’t cause a spike in blood sugars.
The side effects of taking ColonBroom are the same as taking any high fiber supplement. The makers of ColonBroom supplement say it can cause bloating in the digestive system (which may feel like abdominal pain) when you first start taking the supplement.
ColonBroom says you should not take the supplement if you have irritable bowel syndrome that presents as diarrhea, otherwise known as IBS-D. If your IBS presents via constipation, then the supplement is recommended to help alleviate irregular bowel movements.
SOURCES
Nutrition and Immunity | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Fiber-full eating for better health and lower cholesterol – Harvard Health
Does ColonBroom Really Work? See for Yourself!
Fiber: The Carb That Helps You Manage Diabetes | Diabetes | CDC
TikTok Sold $4.3M Weight-Loss Ads, Breaching Its Policy and Promises (insider.com)
Expert Says ‘Salt Water Flush’ TikTok Trend is ‘Napalm For Your Bowels’ (newsweek.com)