Psyllium Power

Psyllium Power

Need to improve your intestinal health, blood cholesterol or blood sugar? Psyllium could help.

Need to improve your intestinal health, blood cholesterol or blood sugar? Psyllium could help.

Sue Radd20 Mar 2023, 12:38 AM

Need to improve your intestinal health, blood cholesterol or blood sugar? Psyllium could help.

A native of India, psyllium seed husks (also known as ispaghula) are the outer parts of the seeds from the plant Plantago ovata, used widely for their health properties.

What Psyllium Can Do For You

Being rich in beta-glucan soluble fibre, psyllium can help in several ways.

The US Food and Drug Authority is so impressed with the research findings on soluble fibre, it has approved a health claim that foods such as oats, barley and psyllium can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Six Ways To Ingest Psyllium

You can buy plain psyllium husks from supermarkets or health food shops. Commercial brands are also available, where psyllium is ground to a powder with colours/flavours to improve its palatability.

To improve your tolerance to added fibre, introduce psyllium gradually into your diet and always take it along with fluids or moist foods to avoid potential “blockage.”

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