Blond psyllium or Blond plantain, desert Indianwheat, blond psyllium, and ispaghol / Plantago ovata - is a small herbaceous annual plant. Its seeds differ from the seeds of other plantain species in their coloration. They are not dark brown, but have a flesh-pink hue with a purple stripe in the rib.
The whole plant contains mucus, which is especially abundant in seeds (up to 40%), carotene, ascorbic acid, vitamin K, bitterness and some tannins. The leaves of the plant contain the glycoside aucubin and traces of several alkaloids. The seeds of the plant also contain fatty oil (up to 20%), some olenolic acid and steroidal saponins.
The seeds of the plant are used as a mild laxative (Ispaghula laxative) for spastic and atonic constipation and as an enveloping agent for chronic colitis, local inflammation and diarrhea, in the diet of patients with metabolic syndrome.
Psyllium seeds are highly hygroscopic and can absorb 10-16 times their own weight of moisture. Nutrition scientists have discovered that these seeds are an excellent substitute for wheat gluten, which contains gluten, a substance that is not accepted by the body of people suffering from celiac disease. Bakery products made from gluten-free flour are brittle and dry, while psyllium retains moisture and the products become soft, elastic and tasty, and most importantly, do not cause any adverse reactions in patients.
Psyllium seeds contain ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, beta-carotene, calcium, chromium, cobalt, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, tin, zinc, riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine (vitamin B1), niacin or nicotinic acid (vitamin B3), selenium, linoleic and oleic acids, mucus and fibers or fiber.
Once in the intestine, the seeds absorb all the moisture, increasing in size form a soft gel mucus mass, which easily and quickly comes out, cleansing it of toxins, toxins and even deposits of fecal stones, preventing them from being reabsorbed through the walls of the large intestine back into blood. This property contributes to the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract, improves its peristalsis. Nature endowed the seeds of this plant with amazing properties.
They are recommended to be taken as a laxative for constipation and at the same time as a remedy that can gently eliminate diarrhea, with hemorrhoids, for patients in the postoperative period. In addition, these seeds are recommended for ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome.
Even for a healthy body, the use of seeds is also very useful, because they act like a sponge, cleansing the body of toxins and toxins. In addition, many years of medical research has confirmed that psyllium accelerates the degradation of bile acids, thereby blocking the accumulation of cholesterol in the liver. It's like preventing heart disease. The seeds help the body balance blood sugar levels and, especially important for diabetics, lower lipid levels. However, for such patients there is a warning.
When using seeds along with medicines, it is necessary to control blood sugar levels.
These seeds are not digested in the small intestine, but are often broken down in the large intestine, making them an excellent food source for non-pathogenic flora. At the same time, the pH level of the intestine decreases, the pathogenic flora is inhibited, and the non-pathogenic flora flourishes, and this is the prevention of various inflammatory and oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular colon cancer, gastric disorders and strengthening the body's immune system.
For people wishing to reduce their weight, eating psyllium is a natural, harmless and non-fatiguing alternative to the proposed strict diets and expensive drugs. After all, the seeds fill the stomach, satisfy the feeling of hunger, and then the consumption of high-calorie foods is significantly reduced. To do this, it is not necessary to use the seeds only with water or juice, they can be ground into powder and added to soups, milk or other dishes. But do not forget that they will thicken and after adding the powder, the amount of liquid must be increased.
To cleanse the body of toxins or for the purpose of healing, seeds should be consumed two or three times a day, half an hour before meals, or 30-60 minutes after meals. The amount of this product should not exceed from 3 to 10 g per day, while they must first be soaked in water or juice for 2-6 hours, at the rate of 200 ml per 5 g of raw materials. Then all the liquid is drunk along with the seeds and washed down with a glass of water. During the day you need to drink at least 1.5 liters of water. This is because the seed fibers absorb a lot of fluid, and neglecting this advice can cause dehydration.
It is not recommended to take psyllium and other laxatives at the same time. Also, if you are taking any medications or seeds, you should allow at least two hours between doses, otherwise psyllium fiber may interfere with the absorption of the medications you are taking. Long-term use of seeds is not addictive and is absolutely harmless to the body, but doctors do not recommend taking it without a break for more than 10 days. At the same time, we must not forget to drink at least 1.5 liters of water throughout the day. There are practically no contraindications during pregnancy and lactation, but before use, you should definitely consult a doctor.
However, for all the harmlessness, psyllium seeds have contraindications. This applies to patients with diabetes mellitus, if they do not have the ability to control their blood sugar levels. Also, seeds should not be consumed with intestinal obstruction, stenosis of the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract.
If you have a need to cleanse your body or a desire to lose weight, use psyllium seeds.
