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The Blond Psyllium or Plantago ovata is a plant native to India and the Middle East. This rather discreet, little-known and unadorned superfood has properties that will leave you open-mouthed.
If its cousin brown psyllium has no therapeutic virtues, blond psyllium has been used for thousands of years and has proven itself in the face of intestinal pathologies. Problems such as regulating transit, facilitating digestion, constipation or high cholesterol levels do not scare it!
Let’s now get to the heart of the matter to discover all the benefits that this miraculous plant contains.
Quick Navigation :
• Origin of Psyllium
• Benefits of Psyllium
• Contra indication
• Dosage
• Where to buy it ?
Origin of Psyllium
The name of these psyllium seeds comes from the Greek “psyllia” which means “flea”. This superfood was so named because these seeds are not only small but also extremely light: 1000 seeds weigh barely 2g.
Psyllium is not at its best, far from it! it has been used for more than a thousand years by the Egyptians in order to facilitate digestion. Also used in traditional Indian medicine, this small plant has sneaked in and found a way to take over Asia and then the United States. In 1996, psyllium finally receives all the recognition it deserves and is approved as a remedy by the Danish Medicines Agency for the following problems: constipation, high cholesterol, diarrhea and irritated colon.
However, psyllium does not stop at an approval and is subsequently recognized by an American institution which confirmed its virtues in terms of reduction of cardiovascular diseases. What super powers!
The benefits of Psyllium
You should know that psyllium seeds are not used. Indeed, only the seed coat (envelope) has the beneficial part of the seed, which we will call “the Grail”.
Once absorbed, our dear psyllium will form a gel in contact with water, which will in turn protect the intestinal mucous membranes, facilitate and activate transit. Let’s find out what benefits psyllium can still hide from us…
Psyllium versus intestinal pathologies
Blond psyllium is primarily known as a natural laxative but is also renowned for the benefits it brings to the intestines.
We all sometimes suffer from intestinal problems due to a poor diet, too much medication, or even because of the additives or chemical elements present in our food.
Psyllium swells during digestion and therefore facilitates intestinal transit as well as digestion. By swelling, it also traps toxins and cleanses the walls of the intestine. This superfood is also very well known for being used in cases of constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, irritable bowel, inflammation, hemorrhoids and many others.
To fight even more effectively against digestive disorders and other inconveniences, we advise you to combine psyllium and guarana. You will tell us about it!
Helps with weight loss
If psyllium has many powers, unfortunately we should not expect a weight loss equivalent to months of intensive sport (to our greatest regret!). However, psyllium still acts as an appetite suppressant. It absorbs up to 50 times its volume in water, swells and therefore causes a feeling of satiety. The little tip is therefore to consume it about 1 hour before eating.
Psyllium is not a food, it is not absorbed by the body and also participates in the reduction of fats and sugars present in the body. To help you lose weight, we recommend combining psyllium with chlorella for an appetite suppressant effect and for the regulation of fats and sugar in the body.
Fight against diabetes
During a study on patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, researchers demonstrated that blond psyllium had allowed a reduction in the level of glucose in the blood. Taken at meal times and mixed with food, this superfood modifies the texture and viscosity of food and thus reduces their glycemic index.
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, consult your doctor before starting a course of psyllium blond.
Psyllium and cholesterol
As mentioned in The Origins of Psyllium, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proclaimed that blond psyllium has effects in reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases. Canada took over by publishing a study demonstrating the effects of psyllium on cholesterol. Indeed, thanks to the fibers it contains, this superfood helps to reduce the absorption of cholesterol by the body. These results are observed in people with too high a cholesterol level and not those who have a level quite within the norm.
Prevention of certain cardiovascular diseases
In people who are overweight or suffer from hypertension, blond psyllium has also been shown to have helped reduce blood pressure.
Psyllium: Side effects, precautions and contraindications
Adverse effects
Even though psyllium is not a drug, you may still experience a adverse effect: bloating.
It is common and normal for this to happen at the beginning of your treatment but if this problem persists, reduce your daily dose of psyllium even if it means stopping it for a while, then resume it very gradually.
Precautions
In addition, do not hesitate to consult a doctor for taking psyllium if your health condition is different from normal.
Contra-indications
It is contraindicated to take psyllium in case of: difficulty swallowing, allergy, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, the presence of blood in the stool, any type of gastrointestinal obstruction or the presence of a fecaloma.
Psyllium : Dosage
It is important to know that everyone can benefit from the virtues of blond psyllium: men, children, women (pregnant, breastfeeding or not!) and even babies. It is important to mention that children and babies do not take the same doses as adults.
How much per day?
Blond psyllium is neither a medicine nor a food, so there is no recommended daily dose. The dose will be different depending on the person, their needs and the problem to be treated. It’s all a matter of patience to find THE ideal dosage.
Psyllium can also free baby from possible constipation. Dilute ½ spoon of psyllium in water, juice or any semi-liquid food. Observe the results and repeat the operation a few days later if necessary (up to 3 doses per day). Make sure that your child drinks enough after taking the psyllium!
Regarding the intake of superfood for your baby, it is natural to recommend that you consult a doctor who will be able to refer you according to the case and the child.
How to take psyllium?
Whether consumed in powder or in capsules, it is essential to drink psyllium with a large amount of water because it swells in volume.
If you choose to ingest psyllium powder, it is easier and more common to drink it diluted in a large glass of water or juice. Once well mixed, it is better to drink it quickly to prevent it from gelling in your glass and that it becomes more difficult to ingest (and less effective once in the body!). Once you have drunk the mixture, it is recommended to rinse your glass and refill with water.
If you opt for capsule, nothing could be simpler: a large glass of water!
For the more adventurous among you, know that you can also mix your psyllium in soups, yogurts and even cake preparations!
Finally, to the delight of some of you, psyllium blond is gluten-free and indicated for vegans because it contains no additives.
Where to buy Psyllium
Blond Psyllium is easily found in organic stores, on the internet or even in pharmacies. Most of the time, you will find it in the form of powder or capsules.
Attention: If you want to buy your psyllium in a pharmacy, make sure that it is blonde psyllium integuments and not a laboratory preparation based on psyllium. In addition, pay attention to the psyllium you buy: the so-called brown or black psyllium is completely ineffective and could, on the contrary, irritate your mucous membranes.
Don't know which products to eat to reach your health goals?
Find out in less than a minute by making your personalized diagnosis.