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What is Psyllium?

The Outstanding Choice for Health

Psyllium fiber is often the fiber supplement recommended by doctors and dieticians because it’s so effective and contributes to so many health benefits. See the top 10 fiber benefits here.

Psyllium fiber (pronounced “silly-um”) comes from the outer coating, or “husk,”of the psyllium plant’s seeds.  It is NOT a wheat. (Therefore, pure psyllium products are gluten-free.)

Look for the husk

The seeds of the psyllium plant are collected and dried; then the husks are removed by winnowing and thrashing. The collected husks are ground into a fine powder for use in dietary fiber supplements.

The scientific name of the plant is Plantago ovata Forskal, known in commerce as blond psyllium or Indian psyllium. It is primarily grown in India. (Final processing of the psyllium fiber products typically takes place in the U.S.)

The seeds, particularly the husks, form a thick gel when soaked in liquid.The husks can absorb up to 90% of their weight. Therefore, products that have a high husk content are more effective bulk-forming agents.

Psyllium fiber has been used for thousands of years

Psyllium has a long history of medicinal use. Psyllium itself has been known as a remedy for centuries. It has been prescribed in India, where the psyllium plant is natively grown, since 1868. However, other medicinal uses for psyllium seeds have been traced as far back as ancient Egypt, a millennium ago.

Doctors recommend psyllium fiber

Psyllium has been recommended by doctors in the U.S. as a natural dietary supplement for regularity since the 1920s. The careful pharmaceutical preparations and the manufacture of the imported husk increase the effectiveness of psyllium. Intestinal peristalsis is stimulated by the smooth, bulky mass of material without using harsh chemical laxatives.   It also acts as a lubricant and will absorb toxins in the digestive tract. Psyllium fiber has long been used for the treatment of chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and hemorrhoids. Psyllium fiber is gluten-free

Pure psyllium seed husk contains no gluten. The psyllium plant is not a wheat.  Look for a premium, pure product with no additives if you are on a celiac diet.

How does psyllium fiber work?

The psyllium husk is a natural source of soluble fiber, similar to fiber found in grains such as oats and barley. But the amount of soluble fiber in psyllium is nearly 5 times higher than oat bran.

• 100 grams of psyllium = 50 grams of soluble fiber
• 100 grams of oat bran = 5 grams of soluble fiber

Intestinal Health Benefits:

Psyllium fiber can be helpful for both constipation and diarrhea and is used for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. Psyllium is a bulking agent that promotes bowel regularity. It can be used daily, as opposed to harsh stimulant laxatives which should only be used occasionally. It is helpful in chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, hiatus hernia and diabetes.

Heart Health Benefits:

Clinical studies have shown that 7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium husk, taken daily as part of a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. Soluble fiber may even lower cholesterol 10% to 15% if enough is taken. According to the FDA, clinical studies show that within a heart-healthy diet (low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables and grain products that contain soluble fiber), cholesterol levels dropped between 0.5 percent and 2 percent for every gram of soluble fiber eaten per day. FDA evaluated placebo-controlled studies showed that 10.2 grams of psyllium seed husk per day showed consistently significant blood total- and LDL-cholesterol lowering effects as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Only psyllium fiber has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol.

Methylcellulose (wood fiber, like that in Citrucel) in its natural state is an insoluble fiber. It has been chemically altered to have properties like soluble fibers.