Let’s talk about poop, bowel habits, and how organic psyllium husk can help irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers get relief from cramping, bloating, gas, and go, uh number two.

One of the irritable syndrome causes is insufficient fiber in our diets. The effects of low fiber are poor digestion and constipation.

How does one know if they are constipated?

Magazine collection in the bathroom, games on the smartphone, side bends on the toilet in an attempt to move things along for that anticipated bowel movement sound familiar?

Constipation and diarrhea often occur together. One minute you can’t go and the next time, you’re pushing everyone out of the way to make a straight beeline to the bathroom.

I hate to break to you. You’re likely constipated.

The majority of the population needs a fiber supplement to increase their daily intake.

While many whole grains (barley, oatmeal, whole wheat, popcorn, brown and wild rice) are a good source of dietary fiber, most refined grains in which the nutritious part of the whole grains, the bran, and germ have been removed in favor of longer shelf life over nutrition contain very little fiber.

According to the American Heart Association, the FDA recommends consuming 25 grams of fiber each day for a 2,000 calorie diet.

What Does Psyllium Husk Do?

Psyllium husk powder is an all-natural soluble fiber supplement made from the Plantago ovata plant.

It is used in over the counter commercial products like Metamucil, Cilium, and Fiberall as a laxative and bulk-forming agent.

The soluble fiber makes bowel movements easier by soaking up water. When added to water, psyllium husk powder puffs up and turns gel-like.

If you have ever added powder and forgot about it, the mass looks like something out of the movie, The Blob.

That gel-like mass is what slows down digestion and helps to move things along.

Popular brands on the market contain a flavoring agent that may not sit well with individuals sensitive to food additives and may increase IBS symptoms.

A generic brand I used had orange flavoring that made my stomach puff up like a blueberry.

At first, I thought I was experiencing an allergic reaction, but it was the artificial sugar that my gut wasn’t agreeing with.

Luckily I found a pound of organic psyllium husk on Nuts.com. It can be a little gritty if not mixed well.

If you’re not a fan of texture, getting psyllium husk down can be a challenge.

It is flavorless so I am not sure why artificial flavoring is added to over the counter commercial brands.

Buying organic psyllium husk contains no additives. You control what kind of sweetener or liquid goes in it and how much.

Simply add one tablespoon to your morning orange juice, lemonade or iced tea. Stir and drink immediately.

I like to make a pitcher of iced tea during the week to get my daily dose of fiber.

Health Benefits of Psyllium Husk

Heart Health

Because psyllium husk is a natural medicine for irritable bowel syndrome, in addition to improving IBS symptoms, constipation, and diarrhea, increasing fiber intake helps to lower LDL cholesterol.

Psyllium husk powder promotes heart health by lowering cholesterol levels. Combined with a healthy diet, it can reduce people’s risk of heart disease.

Promotes Regularity

People with fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are all too familiar with one or all symptoms of cramping, abdominal pain, bloating and gas, constipation, diarrhea or both.

It is typically mixed with water. The water soaks up the powder in your gut to help improve regularity by softening your stool.

Weight Management

Because psyllium husk absorbs liquid, it can promote a feeling of fullness and less hunger in between meals.

If you’re a diabetic, adding psyllium husk to smoothies and bread recipes as an additional source of fiber is great for digestions, controlling blood sugar levels, and can help with weight control.

Instead of using cracker crumbs or bread crumbs in meatloaf, substitute with psyllium husk.

Make Sure to Drink Enough Water

If you have never taken psyllium husk before, the intestinal bulk can initially cause constipation, stomach pain, and gas.

Any matcha green tea or tea lemonade fans out there? Add a tablespoon to your favorite DIY drink, coconut water, or morning smoothie to thicken it and make it easy to consume every day.

Make sure to drink enough water when consuming the powder to avoid a psyllium husk blockage.