Psyllium Husk for Cholesterol: How This Soluble Fiber Supports Heart Health

How Psyllium Husk Lowers Cholesterol

After food consumption, the liver releases bile that helps ensure the body digest the food. Once the bile helps with digestion and nutrient absorption, it goes back to the liver. However, since bile contains cholesterol, it can accumulate in the body.

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What is Psyllium husk? It is a soluble fiber that can form a thick gel. This thick gel traps bile acid and prevents it from going out of the gut for recycling in the blood. Instead, ensure it is removed from the body as a food waste. This way, psyllium and fish oil help lower your cholesterol levels in the body.

Benefits Psyllium Husk for Cholesterol Lowering

Improve Heart Disease Risk Factors

High cholesterol and high blood pressure are linked to different heart diseases in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, higher levels of Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, can cause a buildup of plaques in the artery. This buildup can eventually increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, the health benefits of psyllium husk for cholesterol ensure a lower concentration of LDL cholesterol in the body. A clinical trial published in the National Library of Medicine concluded that a daily dose of psyllium can help lower LDL-cholesterol concentrations in men while also ideal as a treatment for women with hypercholesterolemia.

Reduced Fatigue

Another symptom that comes with a high level of LDL cholesterol in humans is fatigue. Research published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information reveals that an imbalanced lipid profile can cause fatigue. On the other hand, psyllium husk can indirectly prevent fatigue by helping to reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein in the body.

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Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease

Psyllium Husk is one of the most used dietary fiber supplements as it can help improve risk factors that are linked to cardiometabolic diseases. An analysis of 28 trials concluded that psyllium fiber has the potential to help delay cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis in people with or without high cholesterol. The benefits of psyllium husk for cardiovascular health are that it ensures you don’t have to deal with any symptoms of cardiovascular diseases.

Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes can cause diabetic dyslipidemia in the body, a condition that reduces the level of HDL (good cholesterol) while increasing triglycerides and LDL (Bad cholesterol) levels in the body. This can eventually increase the risk of stroke and heart disease.

However, the benefits of psyllium husk for cholesterol control help reduce the risk of diabetes. It does this by improving glycemic and lipid control in men with Type 2 diabetes. In addition, a meta-analysis of 35 randomized, controlled clinical studies in 3 continents and within 3 decades revealed that psyllium fiber helps show a significant improvement in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Trista Best, R.D., Environmental Health Specialist, Adjunct Nutrition Professor, and Consultant, was quoted in Balance One says,

Psyllium fiber’s ability to slow down the absorption of sugars and cholesterol in the intestines also contributes to its health benefits, as it can help manage blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol levels when consumed as part of a balanced diet.

How Much Psyllium Husk for Cholesterol

If you are just starting with psyllium husk products, it is recommended to stick to lower doses, like ½ teaspoon a day. As time goes on, you can increase the dosage as your body becomes familiar with it. Overall, the recommended daily dosage is between 3-10 grams.

How to Take Psyllium Husk for Cholesterol?

Whether you are taking it as a capsule or powder, you must use it with liquid like juice or water. You need at least 8 ounces of juice, water, or any other liquid when you use psyllium fiber. Otherwise, you stand the risk of it swelling and blocking the bowels or esophagus.

While conducting our research, we discovered an insightful YouTube video by Dr Alan Mandell, who shares the details on how Psyllium can do miracles for your body.

When to Take Psyllium Husk for Cholesterol?

When is the best time to take psyllium husk for cholesterol? According to a study, the timing of cholesterol does not affect the cholesterol lowering ability of psyllium. However, it is recommended to take psyllium 1 hour before or 2 to 4 hours after taking medication. This is to help avoid any interactions that can affect some medications.

In addition, it is advisable to take it before meals and avoid taking it before bedtime to avoid any interference with bowel movement.

How Long Does It Take for Psyllium Husk to Lower Cholesterol?

The amount of time it requires to see the cholesterol-lowering effects of psyllium husk depends on factors like age and health condition. According to a study involving 7 healthy men, cholesterol reduction was noticed in 3 weeks. While it took 4 months to see results in elderly subjects.

On the other hand, a study involving 13 patients with hyperlipoproteinemia did not show a significant change in cholesterol levels over 2- 29 months.

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