Psyllium & Weight loss… is it possible?

It’s as easy as… 1, 2, 3!  Two Psyllium Husk capsules and a big glass of water before your meal and you can lose weight.

Psyllium is a water-soluble fiber that comes from the husk of the Psyllium seed. It’s a very good source of fiber and may even help keep your colon squeaky clean. Plus, Psyllium very cheap and can be found at your local health food store or in the bulk food section at the grocery store.

It’s easy to add Psyllium husk to your cereal or include in your protein shake in the morning.  Or, you can fill gel caps with Psyllium husk and take a couple capsules in the morning with a large glass of water for some amazing benefits.

Psyllium husk can slow down the absorption rate of carbohydrates in your small intestine.  It can also help you feel full and satisfied by adding more ‘bulk’ to your meal.  Psyllium Husk also binds to cholesterol as it passes through the gastro-intestinal tract, to help move those fats through your digestive system quickly, speeding up the rate at which food passes through your intestines.

Since Psyllium Husk slows down the absorption rate of carbohydrates and fats consumed with it, the glycemic index of the carbohydrate eaten is lowered significantly, which means it is easier to keep your blood sugar levels normal and helps keep your insulin levels low, all of which contributes to weight loss.

By adding fiber to your meal with Psyllium, it becomes easier to feel fuller for longer after eating. Adding Psyllium to your breakfast routine by adding a tablespoon to your protein shake or oatmeal in the morning will prove very beneficial as the morning progresses.  You may not feel that you need a mid-morning snack, which will decrease the amount of calories you consume each day.

You may have experienced hunger 30 minutes after having your morning protein shake. However, by adding the psyllium husks to your protein shake, you can feel fuller for much longer after having the shake.

One of the health benefits of psyllium husk is the fact that it binds to cholesterol as it passes through the digestive tract. This means that over time, it has the potential to lower your cholesterol level without having to resort to cholesterol-lowering drugs.  Using psyllium husk may reduce your risk of developing colon cancer since toxins are forced out and eliminated with the soluable fiber found in the psyllium husk.

By speeding up the rate at which food passes through the intestines, you again, reduce the risk of toxic substance being absorbed into the body or reacting with the intestinal lining and potentially causing colon cancer.

Since psyllium husks are a water-soluble fiber, if you decide to include them in your diet to obtain the benefits of psyllium husks, then the most important point to remember is to drink plenty of water.

You may want to ease in to the process of adding this fiber to your diet.  Rather than starting off with a tablespoon on your first day, start with a teaspoon instead.  Constipation can occur if you take too much at the start.

Slowly increase your intake over a two-week period until you reach a daily intake that you are happy with. Most people should be able to handle a tablespoon of psyllium husk within a few weeks.  Happy colon, happy life…  And remember to smile from your liver!