I’ve been taking 3 heaping tea spoons of Metamucil everyday for 18 years, first thing in the morning mixed in large glass of water. I buy only the large 55 oz containers, orange flavor. For whatever reason the smaller containers I find have different granules that are harder to digest. I wait at least 2 hours, minimum before eating. This has been a difference maker for me. Makes your bowel movements as close to normal as possible.