Psyllium Seed Effectively Cleans the Colon

Plantago psyllium is a plant native to Iran and India. Psyllium stalks contain tiny seeds, also called psyllium. Psyllium seeds are covered by husks, which is the part of the plant used in foods. Psyllium seed husk contains glycosides and mucilages which are used in the food industry to form gels that give thickening and textural changes to foods. Psyllium seed husk is a source of water soluble fiber, similar to fiber found in grains such as oats and barley. But the amount of soluble fiber in psyllium seed is much higher than oat bran. Every 100 grams of psyllium provides 71 grams of soluble fiber; a similar amount of oat bran would contain only 5 grams of soluble fiber.

Psyllium fiber is not broken down as it passes down the gastrointestinal tract and so psyllium seed has no nutritive value other than as a source of fiber. Adding water to dry psyllium seed husk causes it to swell to up to ten times its original volume. For many years products containing psyllium have been used to increase fecal bulk and loosen stools.

Recently the United States Food and Drug Administration acknowledged psyllium seed's role in lowering blood cholesterol levels by allowing health claims to be made for products containing psyllium fiber. The soluble fiber in psyllium seed husks reduces absorption of blood cholesterol and bile acids from the intestine and that in turn lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Psyllium seed is a bulk-forming laxative and is high in both fiber and mucilage. It is often used to treat constipation. The laxative properties of psyllium seed are due to the swelling of the husk when it comes in contact with water. The resulting bulk when ingested stimulates a reflex contraction of the walls of the bowel. The psyllium seed husk acts as a hard sponge as it works it way down, forming a bulky stool, which is easy to pass. This often causes an emptying of the bowel.

It is sound advice to include as many sources of fiber in your diet as possible, particularly soluble fiber like the kind found in pysllium seed husks. There's convincing evidence that dietary fiber helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, diverticulosis, and other diseases. Some studies have found a high-fiber diet lowers cancer risk.

Psyllium seed husks are a good addition to natural colon cleansing products because psyllium has the capacity to extract many feet of mucus from the intestinal walls in a short period of time.