psyllium husk

[a_thinner_rach]

Hi all,

I have a quick question about psyllium husks. I've been taking them every night to.. uh... help and I was just wondering if it was safe for everyday use. I know laxatives are not designed for everyday use because your system will be reliant on them. Does psyllium act in the same way? Or because it's completely natural it doesn't have that effect?

THanks all!

[jshartel]

i've been taking two caplets every day for a while now and haven't had any problems. i'm pretty sure that it is ok as they are just fiber, they are not a laxative.

[that1redhead]

OK to take everyday - in fact, I think it is good for you to take them everyday to increase fiber.

[a_thinner_rach]

Thanks all for the quick responses! I'll continue taking it everyday

[Zed]

Hi

Have bought some Psyllium husk as i noticed a few recipes that included Psyllium husk for pizza crusts etc and a friend mine makes it using this and it for his pizza base and it was good.

Looking at Fitday it says 4 Tbls of Psyllium husk contain 12.4g of Crabs

But when searching the internet i have read places where they have said the the Carbs from Psyllium husk don't count something to do with digestable Carbs and not digestable Carbs.

here is a example of what i read.

in my country psyllium HUSKS have zero digestible carbohydrates. psyllium itself has some carbs, they said, but if you use only the husks, there are no carbs at all. they said.

whereas many in the forum seem to consider flax seeds as completley carb free. in austria it has 6 g carbs per 100 g, which is written on the label of packed pure flax seed and that is not so exremely low in carbs.

is it possible that different countries believe in different carb percentages of the same food?




So some are saying they do count as Carbs others are saying they don't so i am just wondering if anyone here knows if they really do count or not?

Much Appreciated

[watcher513]

Psyllium Husks are pretty much all fiber, 8 carbs minus 7 fiber = 1 gram of carb per 2 Tablespoons (10g). Although, I don't think I'd Start with 2 T. I'd start slow with possibly 1 teaspoon to start and work up. Also, plenty of water with it.

Serving Size: 2 Level Tablespoons (10 g)
Servings Per Container: 34

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value*
Calories †† 35


Total Carbohydrate 8 g 3%*
Dietary Fiber 7 g 28%*
Soluble Fiber 6 g †
Insoluble Fiber 1 g † Psyllium Husks (Plantago ovata) (Seed) 10 g (10,000 mg) †

[Dottie]

In the US the labels do not show fiber as subtracted, except on specialty foods (like the Atkind bars).
In most other countries, they show the fiber subtracted on the label.
So something in the US may show:
5g carbs
2g fiber

The exact same product with a non-US label may show:
3g carbs

or even
3g carbs
2g fiber

So it matters where the product was labeled.

[lterry913]

As stated above...make sure you are getting plenty of fluids with fiber supplements or they will make constipation far worse than before starting.