Cholesterol levels are increased; They build up fatty deposits, known as plaque, on the walls of your arteries, narrowing them and potentially blocking blood flow to vital organs like the heart and brain. According to experts, this significantly increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious complications. And hence, it is very important to manage and monitor your cholesterol from time to time.

According to recent studies, Psyllium Husk, which comes from the seeds of the herb plantago ovata, A popular fiber supplement used to treat constipation, fiber also helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels as well as two other lipid markers for heart disease.

What is Psyllium?

Psyllium husk is available in wafers, bars and capsules and as a powder that is mixed with liquid to form a thick gel. It absorbs bile acids and cholesterol, which are then eliminated from the body during bowel movements. It is also sometimes added to baked goods and breakfast cereals. Psyllium absorbs water and freezes Into a coarse substance that is difficult for the small intestine to digest.

It controls elevated blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol due to its resistance to digestion. It may also help with constipation, mild diarrhea and weight management.

How does Psyllium lower cholesterol levels?

A sedentary lifestyle and a diet loaded with processed foods and sodium contribute—from smoking and drinking to high cholesterol over time. And so, psyllium husk can help control it, as experts say, even better than oats. Being high in fiber, psyllium husk efficiently attaches cholesterol and helps in its elimination from the body.

The American Pharmacists Association says that one teaspoon of crushed pilum husks has eight times the amount of soluble fiber by weight than oat bran. According to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, taking 10 grams of cyclamen hake per day reduced LDL cholesterol by 10 percent in just two weeks.

Psyllium’s high soluble fiber content—about 70 percent—is superior to oats’ 50 percent soluble fiber content in binding to bile acids and enabling their clearance to lower cholesterol.

Several studies have also found that the benefits of psyllium outweigh those of statins in both men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia — a lipid disorder in which your LDL, or bad cholesterol, is too high. Taking about 5.1 grams of psyllium twice a day may help lower blood total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations.

How Do You Know If Psyllium Is the Right Superfood for Your Cholesterol?

According to experts, when you take a blood test to check cholesterol levels, which is measured in milligrams of cholesterol per second of blood, the ideal LDL cholesterol level should be less than 130 mg/dL without heart disease. . However, if it is above the guidelines, doctors will recommend lifestyle modifications such as exercise for at least 20-30 minutes five days a week, weight loss, and a healthy diet.

While most people comply to some degree, doctors say many are still unable to get their LDL to optimal levels. And at that point, statin drugs are prescribed. However, sometimes doctors also advise patients to consider taking psyllium before starting drug therapy, as this natural botanical product reduces cholesterol by up to 10 percent.

Other Benefits of Psyllium

In addition to regulating your digestion, psyllium has many other benefits, including lowering blood pressure levels and reduction in markers of blood sugar elevation in diabetic patients.

Moreover, it has no side effects.

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