PSYLLIUM SEEDS

PRODUCT INFORMATION 

Health Benefits

Psyllium can be found in various forms and has many health benefits.

Psyllium Relieves Constipation
Psyllium is used as a bulk-forming laxative. It works by increasing stool size and therefore helps relieve constipation 

Initially, it works by binding to partially digested food that's passing from the stomach into the small intestine.

It then helps with the absorption of water, which increases the size and moisture of stools. The end product is bigger and more easily passable stools.

It May Help Treat Diarrhea
Psyllium has also been shown to relieve diarrhea. It does this by acting as a water-absorbing agent, which can increase stool thickness and slow down its passage through the colon.

So psyllium can both prevent constipation and reduce diarrhea, effectively helping to normalize your bowel movements if you are having problems.

It Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Fiber supplementation has been shown to control glycemic response to a meal and reduce insulin and blood sugar levels. This is particularly the case with water-soluble fibers like psyllium.

In fact, psyllium works better than other fibers like bran. This is because its gel-forming fibers can slow down the digestion of food, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.  Because psyllium is able to slow down the digestion of food, it's recommended to take it with food, rather than on its own, so it has a greater effect on your blood sugar levels.

It May Boost Satiety and Aid Weight Loss
Fibers like psyllium that form viscous compounds can help control appetite and aid weight loss.  One study had 12 healthy participants consume 10.8 grams of psyllium immediately before a meal.

They experienced significantly delayed stomach emptying from the third hour after the meal and prolonged sensations of satiety six hours after the meal.

The results indicated increased feelings of fullness one hour after the meal and reduced total fat intake during the day, compared to the placebo. 

It Can Also Lower Cholesterol Levels
Psyllium is able to bind to fat and bile acids, which promotes their excretion from your body.  In the process of replacing these lost bile acids, the liver uses cholesterol to produce more. As a result, blood cholesterol levels decrease. 

One study reported an increase in bile acid synthesis and lowered LDL ("bad") cholesterol in 20 individuals treated with 15 grams of psyllium daily for 40 days.

Furthermore, psyllium can help increase HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.

It Seems to Be Good for Your Heart
Adding water-soluble fibers like psyllium to your diet might reduce blood triglycerides, blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.

One study confirmed that 5 grams of psyllium three times daily for six weeks reduced triglycerides by 26%, compared to the placebo. 

Moreover, in 40 patients with type 2 diabetes, triglyceride levels were significantly reduced after two months of treatment with psyllium fiber. 

It Has Prebiotic Effects
Prebiotics are non-digestible compounds that nourish intestinal bacteria and help them grow. Psyllium is considered to have prebiotic effects.

Although psyllium is somewhat resistant to fermentation, a small portion of psyllium fibers can be fermented by intestinal bacteria. This fermentation can produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which have been linked to health benefits.

Also, because it ferments more slowly than other fibers, it doesn't increase gas and digestive discomfort.