Psyllium Seed Husks | What Is Psyllium? Can Psyllium Help You Lose Weight?
Author: Jana KWhat are Psyillium Seed Husks?
Is Psyllium good for your health?
Can Psyllium help you lose weight?
Here are some answers....
What is Psyillium?
Psyllium or Plantago ovata Forsk is a plant that is grown mainly in India, United States and Southern Europe.
Psyllium is grown for use as a dietary fiber ingredient in foods like cereals.
Psyllium stalks contain tiny seeds, also called psyllium. The seeds are covered by husks, which is the part of the plant used in foods.
The term psyllium is used interchangeably for the seed husk, the seed and the plant.
The psyllium seed husk is a great source of water-soluble fiber. The fiber from psyllium is akin to the fiber found in oat grains and barley. However the amount of soluble fiber in psyllium is as much as 10 times more what you get from oat bran.
How is it good for your health?
The FDA allows a health claim for psyllium that, in combination with a low-fat diet, it may lessen the possibility of heart disease if used in sufficient amounts. Many studies have shown that psyllium is effectual in reducing total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels.
Psyllium is also helpful in some people that suffer with constipation and psyllium may also have some benefit in helping with diabetes.
How can you use Psyllium in your diet? There are two forms of psyllium that you can use.
1-You can get loose psyllium seed husks in a container that makes it very simple to add spoonfuls of psyllium that you mix into your food and drinks. Every day I add Psyllium Seed Husks to my smoothies, my soups, my drinks, etc.
or
2-You can also get psyllium seed husks in capsules. In this case you would not add them to your smoothies and blend them. You would simply take psyllium like you take a vitamin. The capsules are easy to swallow.
Psylliums seed husk capsules are a really simple and convenient way to add psyllium to your daily diet. I keep psyllium seed husk capsules handy and take some every day in addition to the psyllium I add to my smoothies and soups.
How does psyllium make you feel?
For me, my favorite side effect that I felt right away is that psyllium helps me feel full so I am less likely to want to munch on unhealthy snacks. Feeling full keeps me from overeating and keeps my mind OFF of food. Psyllium has been a great help in losing weight.
Another side effect were normal healthy daily bowel movements with NO pain or gassy side effects.
Note: I have been told that everyone is different, so when you first begin to use psyllium start with a small amount and then increase so you can monitor how it affects YOUR particular body type.
So far the side effect of psyllium have all been positive.
- I feel full so I don't snack - this helps me lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
- I am reducing my bad cholesterol
- I am keeping my colon healthy with healthy fiber every day
The ease of adding psyllium husks to my food or popping a couple psylliu capsules each day have made this effective form of fiber a part of my daily life.
Everyone needs fiber in their diet. Psyllium may or may not be the right fiber for you - but it has become a daily staple for me. Check with your doctor if you have any health issues and then get some psyllium and improve your health.