Prompted by favorable reviews here I got some Algin (from Nature's Sunshine). After using it about a week (2x2 capsules/day between meals as suggested here) it seems to be causing some constipation and bloating (bowel movement reduced from once/day to once/2 days with hard stool). Did anyone else have such response to Algin and is it something temporary? I have stopped taking it for now and may try another experiment after I clarify its side-effects. I also use chlorella (2-3 grams/day). Six months ago when I started using chlorella, I tried first Sun chlorella and that gave me constipation and bloating as well. After trying few other brands, I settled on Yaeyama which not only didn't cause any bowel movement problems, but it acutually helped.

I had the same reaction - constipation and bloating. Guess I have a very sensitive stomach, and just can't tolerate it. It might wear off if you persist with small doses, and your stomach gets used to it. I gave up though, for now.

I had the same reaction - constipation and bloating.

It seems there are few different genetic types of people who have entirely different, even opposite, reactions to many of these supplements. A lesson here is to buy minimum quantity of a new supplement and experiment very slowly and carefully before plunging into every advice being posted. I have now 3 bottles of Algin (that was their discount threshold) which I probably won't be able to use. I might give them to my mother in law. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nightlight, I was the same, well nearly I used a product called modifilan which removes heavy metals from your body, but does not remove the mercury from fillings( I still have a filling under a crown) it has various types of seweed in it including algin I had a very bloated/sore stomach when I used it. I do suffer from irritable bowel, so i'm not sure if it was too much to handle. One thing I read afterwards though was to drink lots of water, which I didn't so maybe that didn't help matters, but considering they recommend taking six tablets a day and I only took two my stomach was obviously too sensitive for them. Maybe I should have started with just the one tablet but I'm a bit wary to try this again now. I know what you mean about supplments and stuff I have a cupboard full of them! A lot of which I now don't take. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />lizbet

I do know of a couple of people who had this same problem with Algin. Fortunately, the constipation and bloating are usually only temporary, until your body adjusts to the fiber. I would suggest starting off with 1 or 2 capsules daily at first, and then slowly work your way up.

In addition, make sure you are drinking plenty of water when you take the Algin. I don't recommend juice, even though this is what the Nature's Sunshine label indicates. The amount of water needed varies with each person, but a general rule of thumb is to drink at least 8oz of water with a typical 3-4 capsule serving.

I recently spoke to someone who was having this same problem. They had only been taking the Algin for about a week and were experiencing some constipation. So, they actually tried increasing their daily dose and that solved the problem.

Let me know if this helps,

Thanks Laura. I will give a shot to smaller dose and more water. I will have to use bottled water since I don't like overloading on chlorine and fluoride.

It would be quite handy if some of this kind of useful advice were collected in one place, at least as links to particularly informative posts attached to a list of specific questions (grouped perhaps into categories). Namely, the entire content of the discussion board is much too large and noisy to find the right answer, even when searching for keywords.

I would also mention something that people don't often talk about.

Although hard stools are generally looked down upon, I would mention that there is an up-side in the context of mercury detox in that they contain (isolate and hold onto) the mercury they contain better helping to prevent reabsorption of the mercury, whereas, loose, watery stools will present more surface area to the colon lining and promote reabsorption.

I'm not saying that hard stools are good, but in the context of mercury detox, finding a balance may be a good thing, at least until a good portion of detox is complete.

Algin is unbelieveably absorbant, which is a good thing (it holds onto toxins, like mercury), but those who take it should drink a lot of water to compensate, but I would not drink a lot of water at the same time as taking the algin. Drink only the water necessary to get the algin down at the time you take it.

When you increase your water intake (at least 1 hour away from the times you take algin), this water will hydrate the lymphatic system and help promote detoxification (which may make you feel worse for a little while), but when the liver dumps the mercury into the intestines (the liver needs water to work), the algin needs to be available to absorb it. Then, if the algin dries up a little making stools a little harder, this may enable it to hold onto the mercury better.

I believe the game here is balance. With too little water, the frequency of movements decreases which will increase the chances that mercury gets reabsorbed. With too much water, stools are so soft that there is a much larger degree of surface area contact with the colon lining increasing reabsorbtion. So the ideal situation is to keep movement frequency up while keeping stools medium in dryness.

It's a little hard to explain so I hope this makes sense.