Not All PHGG Is the Same: Why Choose Sunfiber®?
If you've started looking for a PHGG fibre supplement, you've probably noticed something: there are a lot of products that appear very similar.
Most contain Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum, usually shortened to PHGG. Some are inexpensive generic powders. Others use a branded PHGG ingredient such as Sunfiber®.
So what's actually different?
The first thing to understand is that PHGG itself is a well-researched soluble fibre. It isn't necessary to buy Sunfiber® simply because other PHGG has no scientific evidence behind it — that wouldn't be accurate.
PHGG has been investigated in clinical research for decades, including controlled studies looking at gastrointestinal symptoms, bowel function and changes in the gut microbiota.
The difference with Sunfiber® is about knowing which PHGG you are getting.
PHGG is the ingredient category. Sunfiber® is a branded PHGG.
Think of PHGG as the type of fibre.
Sunfiber® is a specific branded form of PHGG produced to defined specifications.
When you buy an unspecified PHGG powder, the label may tell you that the ingredient is partially hydrolysed guar gum. What it doesn't necessarily tell you is the manufacturer, the precise manufacturing standard, or whether the ingredient used in that particular product is the same branded material used in specific published research.
With Sunfiber®, the ingredient is identifiable.
That traceability is one of the reasons we chose 100% Sunfiber® for Freed Gut Fibre.
Sunfiber® has its own research history
PHGG generally has a strong scientific literature, but Sunfiber® also has an extensive body of research associated with the branded ingredient and its manufacturer.
Sunfiber's research archive includes studies investigating PHGG in areas including bowel function, microbiome changes, gastrointestinal tolerance and other health outcomes.
For us, that's important.
Rather than simply buying the cheapest material labelled “PHGG”, we wanted an ingredient with a long history, identifiable manufacturer and substantial research behind it.
Monash Low FODMAP Certified™
Another important difference is certification.
Freed Gut Fibre uses Sunfiber® and is Monash University Low FODMAP Certified™.
For people following a low-FODMAP diet, that's considerably more meaningful than simply seeing the words “gentle fibre” or “gut friendly” on packaging.
Certification gives customers another independent piece of information when deciding between products.
Consistency matters too
Two products can have the same broad ingredient name without necessarily being identical in every characteristic.
Manufacturing method, molecular characteristics, fibre specification, solubility and quality controls can all matter.
PHGG itself is produced by partially breaking down guar gum enzymatically, which reduces its viscosity and makes it much easier to incorporate into foods and drinks than ordinary guar gum.
Sunfiber® has become particularly well known for being easy to mix, low viscosity and suitable for everyday use.
That's why Freed Gut Fibre disappears easily into water, coffee, smoothies or food without turning your drink into a thick fibre shake.
Does that mean generic PHGG is bad?
No.
That's not the point.
There is legitimate research supporting PHGG as a category, and a generic PHGG product may be perfectly suitable for many people.
The better question is:
How much do you know about the PHGG you're buying?
When comparing products, we'd look at:
- Who manufactures the PHGG?
- Is it a recognised branded ingredient?
- Is there published research associated with it?
- Does the product have relevant independent certification?
- How much PHGG are you actually getting?
- Are there fillers or other ingredients?
- Does it dissolve easily enough that you'll actually use it every day?
That's where Sunfiber® stands apart.
Why Freed uses Sunfiber®
We could sell generic PHGG.
Instead, we chose genuine Sunfiber® because we wanted a premium PHGG ingredient with strong traceability, an extensive research history, excellent mixability and Monash Low FODMAP certification.
And we've kept the proposition simple:
100% Sunfiber® PHGG. Nothing else.
Our 210 g pouch provides 30 × 6 g serves and is $29.95.
So when you're comparing PHGG products, don't look only at the price printed next to the bag.
Look at what PHGG is actually inside it.
Freed Gut Fibre
100% genuine Sunfiber® PHGG
Monash Low FODMAP Certified™
No fillers or added ingredients
210 g – $29.95