Psyllium is made from the seeds of the Plantago Ovata plant and is a bulk-forming laxative, which means bidding goodbye to digestive issues. It is also called Isabgol.

Isabgol is a therapeutic panacea with properties of soluble and insoluble fiber. These dietary fibers are widely used as pharma supplements and food ingredients. 

Psyllium was primarily used in traditional, ayurvedic medical prescriptions, and now, it is prevalent in allopathic medicines, too. From taking care of digestive health to heart health, Psyllium is a multi-tasker with several health benefits. 

Psyllium has fibers that help prevent and treat chronic diseases. It is produced majorly for its mucilage content or water-absorbing property that combats gastrointestinal issues.

With its laxative attribute, Psyllium is transforming the gastro-medical industry. Check out the benefits of psyllium and how it is helping people lead a disease-free life:

People commonly experience digestive issues like heartburn, acidity, stomach pain, constipation, nausea and diarrhea.

When these symptoms occur, they can disrupt your life. But fortunately, lifestyle and diet changes can help improve your gut and mental health. Use Psyllium to reduce the risk of these digestive issues.

How Psyllium improves digestive health?

• Soaks up water in your gut
• Clears up your digestive tract 
• Makes bowel movements easier
• Eases off constipation
• Grows good bacteria in your digestive system

Psyllium has a prebiotic property that keeps the digestive system clear and promotes healthy immune function. This means your body can fight stomach infections better.

Unfortunately, cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of global deaths.

In 2019, approximately 17.9 million people died of heart-related diseases. 85% of these deaths were due to stroke or heart attack. And high cholesterol and high blood pressure are the primary reasons that mess up your heart and body.

Psyllium has soluble fibers that keep your heart healthy. It creates a thick gel that traps bile acid – used for dietary fat digestion – prevents its reabsorption, and eliminates it as food waste.

How Psyllium improves heart health?

• Regulates cholesterol level
• Improves lipid level
• Strengthens heart muscle
• Lowers blood pressure

Thanks to its increased soluble fiber, it easily fulfills the dietary fiber recommendations and keeps your heart healthy.

The primary concern for people with chronic health conditions is maintaining a healthy weight. 

Though Psyllium is a panacea for heart and blood level-related ailments, it also helps lose weight. 

Psyllium has soluble fiber that gets easily dissolved in water. It makes you complete quicker and saves you from overeating. Also, it does not have macro-nutrients like sugar or fat, making Psyllium a low–calorie supplement.

How does Psyllium help to lose weight?

• Absorbs the excess liquid in your digestive tract
• Improves digestion 
• Gives you a feeling of fullness (satiety)
• Helps you subconsciously control your food intake
• Supplements of fiber in your body with no additional calories
• Promotes healthy bacteria in the intestinal region 

The old saying – “disease begins in the gut,” still holds.

It’s interesting to see how 70% to 80% of the immunity cells are located in the gastrointestinal tract. 

No wonder why you need a robust immunity system. It helps you fight infection, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy tissue and cell growth. 

Psyllium has soluble fiber and insoluble fiber that improves your digestive health. It has a prebiotic effect that keeps your gut clean and healthy, ultimately strengthening your immune function. 

How Psyllium builds immunity?

• Produces short-chain fatty acids
• Keeps bowel movements clear
• Improves metabolism with its good bacteria
• Increases your immune system’s retaliation to foreign bacteria

Having a high blood sugar level leads to type 2 diabetes. And a diabetic body is more prone to cardiovascular diseases, nerve damage, kidney damage, hearing impairment and much more. 

Consuming Psyllium before meals prevents blood sugar levels from rising after a meal.

How does Psyllium lower blood sugar levels?

• Lowers the postprandial blood glucose levels
• Reduces the dependence on medication
• Regulates the spike in blood sugar level
• Reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome

We have covered the major benefits of Psyllium. But then, they are not the only benefits. Some people use Psyllium for these additional uses as well.

Constipation is an uncomfortable state. It causes bloating, disturbed bowel movements and cramps. And diarrhea, on the contrary, causes more frequent bowel movements, dehydration and imbalance in body electrolytes.

Psyllium is known for its therapeutic properties to combat these discomforting states. Psyllium is a mild laxative. When it mixes with water, it expands and produces bulkier stool. This is how it tackles constipation and gets rid of chronic diarrhea.

How Psyllium relieves constipation?

• Smoothens the excretion process by making the stool soft and bulky
• Prevents you from having piles
• Decreases the frequency of liquid stool

Irritable bowel syndrome is a severe abdominal condition that leads to excessive gas, cramps or mucus in the stool. It can get easily triggered by food, medicines, or even anxiety.

The fiber supplements in Psyllium are highly effective in overcoming irritable bowel syndrome. Psyllium has a water-holding and gel-forming capacity. It makes the stool pass easily through the stomach and intestines.

How Psyllium treats IBS?

• Reduces the C-reactive protein (CRP) level 
• Reduces the inflammation in the digestive tract
• Strict bowel regulatory effect

High cholesterol levels are a significant contributor to the risk of heart disease. And the worst health vices are obesity and high cholesterol.

This is where Psyllium helps you with its low-calorie supplement. It makes you full after a small dose and saves you from overeating.

How does Psyllium lowers cholesterol?

• Lowers the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels
• Provides a substitute for drug therapy
• Has least adverse effects
• Improves digestion and regulates weight fluctuations 

Psyllium is now commonly found in consumer products like high-fiber breakfast cereals. They are available as fiber supplements in granules, powder, wafers, and capsules.

Check out the varieties of Psyllium here:

Psyllium seeds are the common name for the Plantago Ovata seeds cultivated for medicinal uses. These seeds can be used in a ripe, dry or solid form. Psyllium can help to treat constipation by softening the stool.

Do’s and Don’ts:

• Take psyllium seeds with plenty of liquid
• Don’t consume it immediately before bed-time
• Take Psyllium half an hour or one hour before or after the meal
• Don’t let children below the age of 6 years consume it

Side effects:

• Swelling of the belly
• Building up of hard, dry stool
• Allergic reactions like runny nose, conjunctivitis
• Difficulty swallowing

Psyllium husks are a traditional medical remedy made from the outer shell of psyllium seeds. The total recovery of the husk is around 25% to 26% from the seed. 

Psyllium husk’s shelf life remains only six months in basic and traditional storage conditions. 

These husks are white to yellowish colored and resemble oatmeal. They mix well with water and secrete mucus, creating a transparent guard on the intestinal wall.

Husks don’t have any specific taste but are neutral. So you can use it to prepare dishes.

Do’s and Don’ts:

• Don’t take more than 5-10g, and three times a day
• Don’t take it with other medications. Using Psyllium husks delay the absorption of other medicines.

Side Effects:

• Loose stool
• Vomiting & Nausea
• Abdominal pain & cramps

Psyllium husk powder is made from the seeds of the Plantago ovata. These are highly effective in combating constipation and irritable bowel movements. 

Husk powder bulks the stool and helps in smoother movement along the intestines. Talk to your doctor in case of discomfort.

Do’s and Don’ts:

• Do not take more doses than prescribed by the doctor
• Do not breathe in the powder
• Consume it at least 2 hours before taking other medications 
• Mix in a full glass of water (8 ounces / 240 ml)
• Do not take the psyllium husk powder for more than a week unless prescribed

Side effects:

• Chest pain & choking
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Reddening and inflammation of the eye
• Severe allergic reaction

Psyllium Kha-Kha powder is also known as psyllium industrial dust. It is the leftover material after processing the outer shell of Psyllium seeds. Unlike Psyllium seeds and husks, Kha-Kha powder isn’t used to treat constipation or diarrhea. It is used for construction and other purposes.

How is Psyllium Kha-Kha powder useful?

• Prevents landscaping
• Prevents soil erosion
• Used as animal feed and veterinary medicines
• Used for construction of car parks, pathways, schoolyards and more

Organic Psyllium combines soluble and insoluble features of Psyllium. It is a bulk-forming fiber supplement that prevents gastrointestinal issues. 

Organic Psyllium is consumed in the form of capsules and is extremely useful because:

• It creates a feeling of fullness and keeps weight fluctuations in check
• It prevents the onset of type 2 diabetes by regulating the blood sugar level
• It keeps your gut healthy
• It lowers the risk of heart diseases

Now here are some frequently asked queries from the users.

1. Is Psyllium OK to take daily?

Yes, it is OK to consume Psyllium daily if it is taken within the permissible limit. It’s advisable to consume 5–10 g of psyllium, with meals, per day. For consumption of more than 10 grams, you may have to check with your dietician or doctor. It’s generally safe to take psyllium daily, but consuming too much without expert intervention may cause an electrolyte imbalance in your body.

2. What foods are high in Psyllium?

No food is rich in Psyllium because it is a fiber supplement derived from Plantago Ovata seeds. Though it can be used as an ingredient for preparing dishes. But before consuming Psyllium directly, check out these foods high in fiber:

• Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
• Oats
• Nuts
• Barley
• Fruits (apples, grapefruit, oranges)
• Buckwheat
• Brown rice

3. Is Psyllium the same as Metamucil?

No, Psyllium is not the same as Metamucil. Because Metamucil is a supplement that contains Psyllium, a natural dietary fiber. Though they have a lot of similar properties:

• Both offer fiber supplementation and are laxatives
• Both are over-the-counter drugs and a dietary supplement
• Both are used to treat constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and related issues

4. Who should not take Psyllium?

You should not take Psyllium if you are: 

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Person with metabolic disorder
• Person with rectal or colon cancer history
• Allergic to Psyllium
• Facing difficulty in swallowing
• Child below the age of 6

5. How are Psyllium husks different from Psyllium seeds?

The main difference between Psyllium husks and Psyllium seeds is, that psyllium husks are the outer shell of the psyllium seeds, whereas psyllium seeds are the unit of reproducing psyllium plants. Psyllium husks are nothing but the sub-part of psyllium seeds. The second main difference is, that psyllium husks have more medical potency and nutritional value than psyllium seeds.

6. How to take Psyllium?

Take the psyllium powder 30 minutes before the meal. Add the powder to an 8-ounce glass of water. Mix it before it becomes thick. Do not take it when you have deficient blood sugar levels. It can be dangerous at that moment. Take controlled trials first.

Consume psyllium supplements with plenty of water, or else it leads to choking, constipation & bloating. 

Psyllium has been treating people with gastrointestinal issues since ages. Its high-fiber & therapeutic property makes it the favorite home remedy. But consuming too much of it can be dangerous. So, do remember – moderation is the key! For any psyllium query, you can reach out to us.