Have you been focusing on your gut health? Probably not, right? I fully understand, as it’s not something that many people focus on. But just because it’s not something you can physically see, like your skin health or physique, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put your best foot forward with improving it, and psyllium husk is just one way you can help take control of your gut cleansing.
Gut health is one of the most frequently discussed topics right now, and for a good reason – it plays a significant role in your overall health and immunity.
There seems to be an endless amount of information floating around on the internet these days, and it can be hard to separate the facts from conjecture. Hence, in this article, we will talk about the importance of gut health and how psyllium husk can impact the same.
Note: As always, it is advised that you speak with your doctor before implementing any nutritional changes or supplements into your program or regimen to ensure they are suitable for you and your current health status.
What is Gut Health?
Gut health refers to the overall digestive tract health. It is a term that has become relevant over the past couple of decades as more studies have been done into what makes a healthy gut and how it affects your overall health.
In general, gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that are present in your digestive system. This is also known as the gut microbiome or more easily remembered as “healthy bacteria.”
Now, why is the gut microbiome important?
The gut microbiome is responsible for all sorts of things happening in your body, including absorption of nutrients and helping with proper digestion of the food you consume. It also helps to regulate things such as bile, vitamin levels, and supports your overall immune system.
Now that you are aware of the importance of gut health, the gut microbiome, and how it affects your overall body, let’s talk specifically about psyllium husk and how it helps in gut cleansing.
What is Psyllium Husk?
Psyllium is a fiber that is made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds. It is commonly known as a laxative, which helps loosen stool as well as keeps your bowel movements regular. While it’s not the sexiest thing to talk about, it’s a matter of understanding how it affects your health.
The husks are generally ground into a powder and are considered a rich source of soluble fiber. What this means is that it dissolves easily in water and then forms a gel-like substance that helps softens stool and eases bowel movements. Psyllium husk can improve regularity without an increase in flatulence.
Research has shown that taking psyllium husk has many benefits to various parts of the human body, such as the pancreas and heart.
How Does Psyllium Husk Help with Gut Cleansing?
Here are some notable benefits of psyllium husk when it comes to gut cleansing:
1. Psyllium Husk Helps Ease Constipation
As discussed earlier, psyllium husk supplements are bulk-forming laxatives. Again, this means it dissolves and disperses in water and eases your bowel movements. It can be a great natural supplement to relieve constipation, and you can also add it to your everyday diet for better regularity and overall digestive health.
Those who are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease are already all too familiar with bowel irregularity. Studies have shown that psyllium husk can help them in treating these conditions. One study found that psyllium husk actually had a better impact than wheat bran, an insoluble fiber, on the total weight, moisture, and stool texture.
2. It Helps Treat Diarrhea
Research shows that psyllium husk supplements help to treat diarrhea. It works as a water-absorbing agent, increases stool thickness, and slows down its passage through the colon.
Other studies showed that psyllium husk might decrease diarrhea in those who went through radiation therapy as a cancer treatment.
3. Maintains Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
After you consume food, carbs like pasta and bread are broken down into simple sugars, and those are then absorbed into the bloodstream. Generally, most sugar absorption takes place early in the process of digestion. Psyllium husk supplements trap some of the simple sugar and carbohydrates. This can delay the absorption process so that some of it is absorbed in the later stage of the digestive process.
Due to psyllium husk supplementation, it has also been shown to help maintain a healthy and normalized blood sugar level.
4. Improves Heart Health
The gel-like fiber substance that is created when you mix psyllium husk supplements with water plays a vital role in decreasing your “bad” LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol, and it does not have any effect on your “good” HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. This is due to the help of a similar mechanism to that of certain cholesterol-lowering drugs.
This mechanism helps psyllium husk bind with bile acid in your gut and prevents reabsorption. Additionally, this has important implications as studies have suggested that high LDL cholesterol levels may lead to various heart diseases.
What is the Proper Dosage for Psyllium Husk?
While there is no such general consensus on the dosage, most of the advantageous effects can be experienced when you take around 3.5g-6g one or two times a day (preferably before meals). It is advised that when you are consuming psyllium husk supplements, you should increase your water intake for the day as well.
Psyllium husk is a great and effective supplement for gut cleansing and overall gut health.
Want to Improve Gut Cleansing and Health Through Psyllium Husk Supplements?
If you’re looking to improve your gut cleansing and gut health, Fiber Cleanse enhanced with PreforPro® is a simple solution. Not only are you getting a patented and clinically proven ingredient that can help positively impact gut microbiota, but also a full 6g of psyllium husk as well.
Fiber Cleanse can help support healthy gut bacteria, maintain proper bowel health, reduce gut inflammation, improve cholesterol levels, aid in managing blood sugar, support weight loss, and help overall heart function. If that checks all of the boxes you’re looking for, give it a try for yourself!