The herb psyllium is commonly used to make commonly available medicinal laxatives for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and other digestive problems. The husk of the psyllium seeds are used to make a bulk-forming dietary additive that also help to decrease high cholesterol and high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Definition
Psyllium is a soluble fiber from a shrub-like herb called Plantago ovata that is commonly found in Pakistan and India but also grows in other part of the world. The National Institutes of Health notes that a single plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds in a growing season. Psyllium husks are derived from the gel-coated seeds and used to make a medicinal food product.
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is a serious health risk that can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and damage to the arteries and organs. In most cases, high blood pressure does not cause any noticeable symptoms until damage has occurred in the body, so it is very important that regular health checkups include monitoring the blood pressure at home and by a primary care doctor. Healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise and a balanced diet also can help to maintain blood pressure at a healthy level. MayoClinic.com recommends fiber-rich foods such as psyllium added to the diet to help reduce factors such as obesity, excess weight and dyslipidemia, or high cholesterol, which can lead to elevated blood pressure.
Soluble and Insolube Fiber
Adding high-fiber foods such as psyllium to the diet can naturally help to reduce the risk cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. There are two main types of dietary fiber, soluble and insoluble. The John Hopkins Institute explains that soluble fiber dissolves in water and insoluble fiber does not dissolve but absorbs water. Both insoluble fiber and soluble fiber such as that in psyllium are important for lowering blood pressure.
Treatment With Psyllium
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that studies indicate that adding 12 g per day of soluble fiber such as psyllium can help reduce high blood pressure. Up to six months of supplementation with psyllium might be necessary in obese or overweight people with hypertension. Psyllium and other sources of soluble fiber, such as oatmeal and bran, also can help lower cholesterol when added to a balanced low-fat diet.
