What Are The Benefits Of Psyllium?

Purdue University reports that psyllium is primarily sought after for its mucilage content. Mucilage is a clear, binding content that is ground from the outer coat of psyllium. Commercially, this mucilage is used in food products as a thickener. The same binding properties that make it a thickening agent make it sought after for health promoting properties. Psyllium ameliorates several risk factors for heart disease and offers intestinal benefits as well.

Reduces Cholesterol

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, heart attack and stroke according to the American Heart Association. Adding psyllium to your daily routine can help lower your cholesterol levels and keep them down. LDL, or bad cholesterol, circulates in the blood and can build up on arterial walls, eventually causing blockages. The AHA reports that HDL, or good cholesterol, sweeps bad cholesterol away, keeping arteries clear. Psyllium benefits cholesterol levels by lowering bad cholesterol and raising levels of good cholesterol, according to a study from researchers at the Institute of Medicinal Plants in Tehran. Tested on diabetic patients, those who received a little over a teaspoon of psyllium husk fiber, twice a day, had lower LDL levels and an increase in HDL levels. The results of the study, published in the November 14, 2005 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," state that consumption of psyllium husk fiber is well tolerated and also helps control blood sugar.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Along with high cholesterol, high blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease and heart failure. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute explains that diastolic blood pressure numbers measure the force of blood in the arteries between heartbeats, when the heart relaxes. This is the bottom number on the blood pressure reading and is a key indicator of high blood pressure in people under the age of 50. Systolic blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood against the artery walls as the heart beats. This is the top number of the blood pressure reading and is a key indicator of high blood pressure in those over 50. When researchers at the University of Bologna in Italy tested psyllium against another dietary fiber, guar gum, they found that both fibers improved patients' body mass index and cholesterol levels, but only psyllium improved both diastolic and systolic blood pressures. Published in the August 2007 issue of "Clinical and Experimental Hypertension," the study used psyllium fiber at the rate of 3.5 g, 20 minutes before meals, three times per day.

Lowers Blood Sugar

High blood sugar that is left untreated can damage kidneys, heart, eyesight and blood vessels according to the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. Lifestyle changes can help lower blood sugar levels, and one of those changes should be adding psyllium to your diet. Bastyr University reports that psyllium safely lowers blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, thereby reducing the risk of developing diabetes.

Fights Obesity

Changing your lifestyle and adding psyllium will not only lower your blood sugar levels, it may also help whittle your waistline. The January 2011 issue of "The British Journal of Nutrition" reports that when obese patients ate a healthy diet and added psyllium to their daily intake, they had a significant reduction in their weight and body fat index after only 12 weeks. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that psyllium helps fight obesity by making you feel fuller, which diminishes cravings.

Intestinal Benefits

Psyllium's soluble fiber content delivers numerous intestinal benefits, according to UMMC. It helps prevent constipation by bulking up the stools, which causes them to move swiftly through the colon and out of the body. This action may also help prevent colon cancer. Psyllium fiber also soaks up water, which helps control and prevent diarrhea.