Categories: NUTRITION

Isabgol (Psyllium husk ) Health Benefits And Uses

Psyllium husk is commonly known as Isabgol in India. It is grown in India and Pakistan. This is the husk of the seeds of the plant Plantago ovato.  Psyllium husk is hygroscopic in nature and it swells and expands to become mucilaginous.

Psyllium husks contain both soluble as well as insoluble fiber. It is a mix of 70% soluble and 30% insoluble fiber. Isabgol has a lot of health benefits. Read on to know them.

Isabgol Health Benefits

Here are some health benefits that this superfood has to offer.

Isabgol Relieves constipation

The hygroscopic nature of the soluble fiber in Psyllium husk helps in absorbing moisture and swelling up to form soft stools. The insoluble fiber in Isabgol helps by providing enough roughage to the wastes, and it also takes it towards the intestine. Together they make the elimination of the waste easy and painless.

How to consume – In case of constipation, Psyllium husk is mostly consumed with warm milk. Milk is high in residue and thus together with Isabgol acts as a wonderful remedy to relieve constipation effectively. If you have severe constipation, add 2 tsp Psyllium husk in a bowl with 1/ tsp sugar, and add warm milk to it, it will thicken and become sticky, you need to intake this at bedtime.  In cases where constipation is not very severe or where stools are passed regularly but are hard, mix 1 tsp Isabgol in warm milk.

You may be interested in reading – How to get rid of constipation instantly.

Isabgol Helps in Diarrhoea

Yes, it is hard to believe that Psyllium husk can help in both extreme conditions of the digestive system. This effect is due to the soluble fiber in Isabgol. The soluble fiber absorbs the water in the intestine and hence, swells up to bind the loose stools.

How to consume – Add 2 tsp Isabgol to 3 tsp curd, mix well and eat it twice a day after eating food.  The probiotics in the curd help in healing and recovering from stomach infections.

Isabgol Helps in Weight loss:-

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Fighting hunger is a big challenge while on a weight loss diet. Psyllium husk helps in reaching satiety. It not only makes you feel full, but also helps in cleaning the gut. While on weight loss, the body seems to be producing a lot of waste products due to the fat burning process. The sudden increase in the intake of raw foods may be a little heavy on digestion and may cause constipation and flatulence.   It is important to clear this waste from the body to remain healthy and feel fit. Taking Isabgol every day will help in weight loss.

How to consume – Isabgol can be consumed with a glass of warm water and lemon early in the morning or just before your main meals. This will help you reaching satiety (the feeling of fullness) early and naturally reduce your food intake.

you may be interested in reading –

How to lose weight effectively

How to burn fat

1200 Calorie Indian diet plan to lose weight.

Isabgol Boosts Digestion

If you suffer from indigestion on a regular basis and are experiencing on and off episodes of constipation and diarrhea, Isabgol is your magic wand.  Isabgol helps in regularizing the bowel movement and increasing the peristalsis of waste (movement of food towards intestine).

How to consume – you can have 1 tsp of Isabgol with a glass of buttermilk after your lunch. In severe cases, you can have this after lunch and dinner too.

You May b interested in reading – How to get instant relief from gas and indigestion

Isabgol Controls cholesterol levels in the blood

The soluble fiber in Isabgol helps in reducing cholesterol from the blood. It forms a gel with the excess cholesterol and fat in the gut and eliminates it with the wastes in the body. Not only does Isabgol eliminate the excess fat, but it also helps by reducing the absorption of fat by the intestinal walls.

How to consume – Isabgol can be consumed either in the morning or at night based on other problems.  You can have it in any of the above-mentioned ways.

Read –  How to reduce triglycerides

Helps in Diabetes

The insoluble fiber in Isabgol helps in diabetes by managing hunger pangs. The soluble fiber makes a gel with food inside the stomach and hence delays the digestion and absorption of food. This helps in keeping the sugar levels in blood near normal and does help against sugar level hikes in the blood.

How to consume – To maintain the blood sugar level, you can have 1/2 tsp – 1 tsp Isabgol mixed with warm milk in a bowl. (Please avoid adding sugar).

Read – 1200 calorie Indian diabetic diet plan

Helps in conditions like Piles and Fissures

Psyllium husk is very helpful in conditions like piles and fissures. It helps in easy elimination of wastes by forming soft stools. Those who suffer from painful eliminations do benefit from Isabgol.

How to consume – Isabgol can be consumed with a glass of warm milk or warm water at bedtime.

Helps in Acidity:

Isabgol is a known home remedy for hyperacidity.  It forms a gel with the content of the stomach and protects the stomach lining by controlling the secretion of stomach acids and digestive juices.

How to consume – one can consume Isabgol during an acidity episode with a cup of lukewarm milk. If the acidity occurs regularly, one can continue to take this mix after meals for up to a week. The acidity episodes will surely reduce.

Isabgol is not only a boon to those who suffer from stomach problems, But it also has so many health benefits that Isabgol suits to be called as a magical fiber.

This post was Last Updated on March 27, 2019

RD, Payal Banka (Registered Dietitian)

RD, Payal Banka (Registered Dietitian) Payal is a Registered Dietitian with 15 years of experience. She is a Professional Blogger, Author, and a Youtuber. She is an MBA in Health care and Hospital management. Payal believes in healthy living. Here at Dietburrp, you will find her talking about health, weight loss, fitness, parenting, healthy cooking and how to keep yourself motivated to be healthy.

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  • Hello i have low sex stamina and timing and semen how i increase semen and sex timing

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    • workout can be a good way to tackle all your problems .

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  • Can we take isabgol with ghee for constaption

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    • Hi Ahmad , yes mix isabghol and ghee in a glass of milk will help in clearing your bowels well.

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  • Hi , I' had H pylori infection & erosions, so took HP kit treatment 6 months ago , from then I am on sompraze -D , then sompraze P now plain sopraze 40 , actigut & Isabgol at night , but even after 6 months I can have only rice and samber , any other foods causes Gas in stomach , can u guide me with your experience when will my stomach be alright , any foods adjustment will I have to do , do I have to take fruits Morning I take 2 glasses of tea in empty stomach , break fast at 10.30 to 11am , lunch at 2.30 to 3 & dinner at 9 pm . Please advice on diet and dration to heal . Thanks

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    • have replied to you e mail .

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  • Mam can psyllium husk help in mouth ulcers
    I have been taking yoghurt also .. but didn’t find husk as a recommendation for mouth ulcers plz suggest asap ! I m dealing with lots of irritation and pain

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    • Hi Ashish ,

      Instead of husk , buy zytee and apply on the ulcers , and you will be relieved within a day . psyllium husk can be eaten in mouth ulcer issue , but it will not treat the ulcers .

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  • hi,

    I suffer from stomach discomfort due to acidity with leads to episodes of high stomach ache. It lasts for around a week and keeps happening every month. I have also been admitted to hospital on certain occasions and once was detected with SIBO, but other than that all tests were fine. Can isabgol benefit me in reducing acidity and strengthening my stomach lining?

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    • Hi Pb,

      yes Isabghol will help you in reducing acidity . also , you should eat a fruit as soon as you ake up , this will help you avoid excess acid production the entire day long .

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  • Hi can i take this on daily basis. I have acidity and gastric problems bloating . I have kidney transplant almost 2 year completed. I am taking Madison neoral , cellcept. deltacortril, risek for stomach and blood pressure Madison
    If yes can you tell me how to take and what amount is enough if taking daily
    thanks

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    • Hi Hassan ,

      yes you can take it everyday , If you do not have any protein restrictions, you can add it in your bedtime milk ad have 1 tsp . if not , you can take in warm water. at night

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  • I am recently suffering from gastritis and on the path of recovery for the same. Can I continue to take isapgol each night after dinner ?

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    • Hi,

      you should avoid it if at all you have any loose motions.

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  • Dear ma’am
    I am having very less stool even after having food at regular time and I am continuously farting and burping and there is pain in my lower abdomen also and my weight is increasing continuously in last 1 year I have gained around 10 kgs in this condition can i consume isabgol and how can I consume it

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    • Hi Aruna ,

      yes you can consume isabghol . in a glass of milk , add 1 tsp ghee and 2 tsp isabghol .

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  • Dear Madam,

    This is very good effort from your side to provide relief the sufferers by way of suggestion and thus, of course? many sufferers are benefited. Being a sufferer, I mentioned my case as follows :

    1) I have poor appetite. There is constipation as well as diarrhoea, but my stool is always soft with MUCUS. Bowel's pressure is little and as such I am to strain to pass my bowels always, even in diarrhoea. Stool is at first like hochpoch and thereafter thicked with like barley and thereafter sometimes watery. Small pieces of vegetable (undigested food) are passing out with stool. Stool passes out in 2 times (in the morning) or 3 times (in the morning and after dinner) in a day. There is a frequent urge to pass stool but the stool is very insufficient and unsatisfactory.

    2) Little pain in colon (left side) is felt before passing of stool; or when pain is felt in colon (left side), gas is removed through anus. Always feel heaviness in colon. Colon is always swollen. Both abdomen are filled with gas.

    3) I have been investigated and diagnosed in the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai in the month of September 2017. Nothing is appeared bad from the reports of investigations (Colonoscopy, Sonography, bile scan, blood tests etc.). I have been informed that there is enzyme deficiency in my digestive track and as such doctor has prescribed me some medicines on digestive disorder (deficiency of enzymes).

    In such condition, can I take isabgol for healthy bowel's movement so that my stool has been solid and I pass my stool without any strain?

    If so; how I can take isabgol? Please specify the quantity, taking of time, whether mix with water or other liquid etc. Milk does not suit for me.

    Further, it deserves to be mentioned here that I have not tried with isabgol. I take Aloe Vera juice with Amla juice. But this mixture makes my stool so soft and watery.

    I need your help.

    - sub.

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    • papaya is one thing that will help you better . you can also try taking cheese cubes at night if it suits you .

      Isabghol might help too . but your case i different and hence you will have to work on trial and error basis

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  • Can I use it daily while having bad stomach inflammation ?

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    • please provide the details of type of inflammation and medications if any

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