Isabgol (Psyllium Husk)

Isabgol contributes to the ease of passage of the stools as it adds unfermented gel, which functions as an emollient and lubricant agent.

It significantly increased moisture in stools and both dry and wet stool weight in patients with gastrointestinal disease.

Isabgol also helps slow down the colon transit and gastrointestinal emptying time; this property is beneficial to people suffering from diarrhoea or faecal incontinence from liquid stools.

Supplementing isabgol may help in the management of inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel diseases and ulcerative colitis due to its anti-constipation activity.

Anaerobic fermentation of isabgol fibre in the intestines results in a large production of metabolites, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

It restricts butyric acid’s antineoplastic activity. Thus, it’s considered beneficial in preventing colorectal cancer.

Isabgol fibres (soluble and insoluble) have significance in reducing total low-density lipoprotein and serum cholesterol. Thus, it helps reduce the risk of heart diseases.5

Since isabgol helps in dealing with both constipation and loose stools, it would also help in managing haemorrhoids.

People treated with a placebo of B vitamins had no major difference, and those consuming isabgol had a reduction of bleeding.

Studies on a population with type II diabetes have shown that isabgol husk effectively improved glycaemic and lipid control after meals.