Benefits of Psyllium for High Cholesterol

provided by Healthcastle.com Nutrition

Psyllium comes from the crushed seeds of the Plantago ovata plant, an herb native to parts of Asia, Mediterranean regions of Europe, and North Africa. The psyllium seed husks have been used in herbal remedies. Similar to oats and wheat, psyllium is rich in soluble fiber. Traditionally, psyllium husk is used as a gentle bulk-forming laxative for constipation.

Psyllium for High Cholesterol

Soluble fiber from psyllium forms a gel when mixed with liquid. Recently, the FDA approved a health claim:

3g to 12g soluble fiber from psyllium seed husk when included as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease

Studies have shown that psyllium is effective in lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) levels. Studies also found that a 1% reduction in total and LDL cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 2%.