Have you ever heard of Ispaghol, or Psyllium? Well, it is a powerful herb that has been used for years to treat stomach problems. If you have a gastrointestinal condition, you should opt for psyllium husk, Ispaghol.

Ispaghol husk is a soluble fiber that passes through the small intestine without being absorbed. But it absorbs water and acts as a viscous compound that helps fight constipation, controls cholesterol, maintains blood sugar levels, diarrhea, weight loss, etc.

This article will help you learn more about Ispaghol/psyllium husk and how it benefits your body.

What is Psyllium Husk?

Psyllium is the soluble fiber that is formed from the seeds of an herb, Plantago ovata. Psyllium comes in many forms, such as granules, husks, powder, and capsules. Many people use psyllium as a dietary supplement.

According to experts, the benefits of psyllium are unlimited and psyllium husk is the main ingredient in Metamucil, an active ingredient. It is a fiber supplement that reduces the risk of constipation.

When psyllium absorbs water, it becomes thick and resistant to digestion in the small intestine.

Your body may not be able to tolerate other potent sources of fiber, but psyllium can easily handle it.

To dispel the myths about psyllium, you should read the interesting facts in the following section.

Interesting Facts About Psyllium

Psyllium has no side effects in women during pregnancy. Take the only recommended dose of psyllium fiber and stay healthy. Increase fluid intake along with ispaghol as it is high in fiber.
Avoid high doses initially and increase over time.
Patients suffering from diabetes can use ispaghol peels as it is well tolerated.

Benefits of Ispaghol

1. Psyllium Treats Mild Diarrhea
Research shows that one of the best uses of Ispaghol is that it helps with diarrhea. It is the water-absorbing agent that increases the thickness of stool and slows its passage.

If someone is undergoing radiation therapy for cancer, psyllium husk can help reduce diarrhea that often occurs due to such radiation therapy.

To defecate less, take 3.5 g of Ispaghol 3 times a day, as it slows down gastric emptying time from 70 minutes to 87 minutes.

Many studies have shown that the benefits of Ispaghol include both prevention of constipation and diarrhea, as it normalizes bowel movements.

2. Ispaghol Controls Hunger and Aids in Weight Loss
Fortunately, the ingredients in psyllium help in weight loss as they help in controlling appetite. When you eat, your stomach empties, causing you to be hungry again and again. Taking ispaghol can promote appetite because it regulates gastric emptying by slowing its rate, leading to decreased appetite.

Eating few calories can help you maintain your ideal weight. People in Pakistan like to take ispaghol as it is popular for weight loss here.

Researchers say we should take up to 10.2 g of psyllium at lunch and breakfast. It keeps you full for a long time and reduces the urge to eat.

A recent study on the benefits of ispaghol husk says that psyllium combined with a high-fiber diet has significant effects on body mass index and body fat percentage. Psyllium husk helps maintain cardiovascular health.

A healthy weight can prevent many health problems like heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. During the month of Ramadan, people who eat easily digestible foods during Iftar and remain physically active can easily maintain the ideal weight. If you take ispaghol during Suhur, it will help you lose weight. Taking ispaghol also prevents heartburn.

3. Ispaghol Chilka Relieves Constipation
Psyllium husk is a form of fiber that increases the size of stool and makes it easier to pass.

It initially combines the digested food that passes from the stomach to the small intestine. The next step involves the absorption of water, which increases the moistness of the stool. In the end, the stool passes easily. People with chronic constipation often develop hemorrhoids or bawaseer.

In recent years, many studies have claimed that ispaghol husk has many more benefits than wheat bran. People with chronic constipation should consider psyllium husk as it makes bowel movements easier and relieves the pain of constipation.

You should eat high-fiber foods such as flaxseed along with psyllium husk to prevent constipation.

4. Psyllium Maintains Blood Sugar Levels
People take fiber supplements to control the body’s glycemic response to a meal, including blood sugar levels. Psyllium also works just like water-soluble fiber. If you are taking bran, you should switch to psyllium as it works better.

There is a gel-forming fiber that slows down digestion and regulates blood sugar levels.

A recent study reveals that people who took 10 g of ispaghol husk twice a day experienced relief from constipation, maintained body weight, controlled blood sugar levels, and prevented bad cholesterol.

5. Helps Reduce Cholesterol Levels
Are you suffering from high cholesterol? We often eat unhealthy foods that lead to high cholesterol levels.

Experts say that high cholesterol is the cause of many health problems, but ispaghol regulates high cholesterol.

When you take ispaghol Chilka, it binds to fats and bile acids which helps the body to excrete them. After taking 6 grams of ispaghol Chilka, you will experience a 6% reduction in bad LDL cholesterol in your body.

At the same time, it increases the levels of good HDL cholesterol in the body. It depends on your dosage how much you need to take to control your cholesterol levels, for example, 20.4 grams of ispaghol/psyllium is more effective than 2.9 grams per day.

6. Psyllium, a heart-friendly dose
Researchers say that fiber is the best choice for the heart.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), a lower cholesterol level prevents heart disease.

Psyllium is the water-soluble fiber that lowers triglycerides in the blood and regulates high blood pressure that increases the risk of heart disease.

In the last section we discussed how ispaghol regulates LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Low cholesterol does not put you at risk of developing any health diseases.

7. Ispaghol – Good for your skin
Appearance is very important and everyone knows that what we eat affects our overall appearance.

Psyllium husks help the skin by controlling skin inflammation. It also heals wounds with its exceptional properties like balancing Sita and Pitta.

For glowing skin, take Ispaghol Chilka twice a day as it reduces dryness and provides flawless skin due to its beneficial properties. You must consult our skin specialist if you suffer from acne.

8. Counteracts Acidity and Bloating
When you take Ispaghol with cold water, a protective layer forms around the stomach. This protective layer helps in reducing acidity. Ispaghol is most beneficial with milk as it also helps in controlling stomach acidity. Make sure you only take a limited amount.

It is common to experience bloating immediately after eating. But Ispaghol is a healthy option to absorb excess fluid because it helps in removing it through stool.

9. Ispaghol Treats Hemorrhoids and Anal Fissures
Ispaghol is a good choice if you want a comfortable treatment for hemorrhoids and anal fissures. It softens the tool and helps it pass by absorbing water from the surrounding parts of the intestine.

Psyllium consumption prevents anal fissures. Overstretching of the anus is painful and may take time to heal. If you persistently suffer from this condition, consult your doctor.

People often focus on the side effects of psyllium, but it offers more benefits than any side effects. Let us shed some light on the uses of psyllium.

Side Effects of Ispaghol

Ispaghol has no side effects if taken in a normal dosage.

Excessive consumption of psyllium husk can cause the absorption of minerals. Taking up to 25 g of psyllium husk a day can decrease mineral retention in the body, leading to a drop in serum levels.
When taking medications, avoid ispaghol husk as it interferes with their effects by absorbing them.
Consuming too much ispaghol husk can cause bloating because it is high in fiber. You should consult with your doctor how much you should take for gastrointestinal disorders.
Summary

Experts always recommend avoiding taking ispaghol husk with medications as it can absorb them and reduce their effects. It is also rare for someone to be allergic to ispaghol, but you should still be careful and use a low dose at first. It is a commonly used laxative that treats diarrhea and lowers triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.