Psyllium Fibre Has More Benefits Than You Think — Here Are 5 of Them

Just when we thought we were on top of most of the recent wellness trends, Psyllium Fibre pops up as the new kid on the block. Well, not literally, since Psyllium has been around for donkey’s years.

So what exactly is this popular fibre everyone seems to be talking about right now? Psyllium is a bulk-forming fibre laxative made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds and great for our gut health. And to learn more we reached out to Naturopath and Clinical Nutritionist Pernille Jensen who is also the Founder of The Gut Cø to find out what the main benefits of psyllium fibre is and how we can incorporate the healthy prebiotic fibre into our diet. Below Pernille is sharing the top five health benefits and what the fibre husk can do for us…

1. Psyllium husk is one of many soluble fibres that also double as a prebiotic fibre. It has been shown to ameliorate constipation and improve overall digestion as well as having a myriad of other health benefits.

2. Psyllium soaks up water and expands in the gut, which helps soften the stool and promote regularity. Psyllium also works as a prebiotic fibre, which means it feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut, helping them grow (this is a good thing).

3. Because psyllium slows down the absorption of food, it can help balance blood sugar levels, hence useful if you are struggling with mood issues (feeling “hangry”) between meals. Psyllium can be used to manage or help prevent type 2 diabetes due to its ability to help manage insulin and blood sugar levels

4. Psyllium will help you feel full for longer, potentially reducing the amount of food ingested leading to weight loss and/or weight management.

5. Psyllium has been shown to help decrease cholesterol levels and could potentially be beneficial in lowering the risk of heart disease

How to take psyllium

When increasing your fibre intake, the most important thing is to also increase your water intake. Increasing any fibre without increasing the amount of water can cause constipation and discomfort in the gut.

If you are new to psyllium start slowly by taking ½ tsp in 200mL water. Increase slowly to a heaped tsp (6mg) in 250mL water.

You can take psyllium 2-3 per day ½ hour before meals to help with weight loss and blood sugar balance or any time of day that works for you.