Psyllium husk doesn’t necessarily “look” like a superfood, but boy is it ever powerful. Psyllium is a master at relieving constipation, and when your bowels are running smoothly, so are you.
Psyllium husk is a fiber from the seed Plantago ovata which is commonly found in India. Now, psyllium is known to be the most popular soluble fiber in the world. I’m not saying you should go out and buy a container of pre-packaged soluble fiber (which is chock-full of added colors, flavors and unnecessary fillers), but I am saying that you should pick up a bag of straight up, natural psyllium husk from the bulk food or health store and make it a part of your daily supplement routine, especially if you struggle with constipation.
But psyllium husk has a lot of other benefits than relieving constipation – this seed fiber is a great natural remedy for several common ailments: from balancing blood sugar to keeping your heart healthy. Let’s take a closer look at 5 ways psyllium husk serves as a natural remedy:
1. Balances Blood Sugar
Blood sugar imbalances can have some scary effects on your health and everyday well being. I know that when my blood sugar starts taking a dive, I get tired, cranky and irritable. Psyllium husk can be a great addition for anyone suffering from blood sugar imbalances. In fact, studies have shown that psyllium husk, when taken daily, has positive effects on patients with type 2 diabetes.
2. Lowers Cholesterol
If you struggle with high cholesterol levels, psyllium husk might be the perfect addition to your supplement routine. In a recent study, 8 weeks of treatment with psyllium fiber reduced serum levels of cholesterol by 14.8 percent! Those are some promising results…
3. Eases Constipation
Now for the reason you bought psyllium husks in the first place…to get your bowels moving. Much like chia seeds, when you add water to psyllium husks, they bulk up, forming an almost gel-like consistency -- making it the perfect material to help push anything through that just isn’t budging. As mentioned above, the key when consuming psyllium husk is to drink plenty of water. This ensures that the psyllium stays soft and doesn’t make the problem even worse.
A great way to use psyllium is to take a tablespoon in a glass of water, and then chug an additional glass of water to follow. Psyllium husk expands into a gel-like mass when it gets wet, making it a great way to “bulk up,” so to speak. However, if you don’t drink enough water with the psyllium husk, you can risk making your constipation even worse. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids while taking psyllium and you should be moving smooth in no time.
4. Boosts Weight Loss
Psyllium can give you that feeling of being “full,” making it a great addition to any weight loss regime. In a study published in 2007, psyllium husk, when consumed over a 6-month period, was shown to significantly decrease body mass index in those who participated.
5. Improves Heart Health
A diet high in fiber is directly related to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Not only has it been proven to improve heart health, but it is also a great way to lower blood pressure. In a random trial, when taken for 6 months, supplementing psyllium fiber into the diet on a daily basis significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure in people who were overweight or had hypertension.
