What is psyllium powder?

Question

I wassearching for a recipe online, and the one I chose to read, asked for that powder, as one of the indgedients. I'd never heard of this powder. Seems the recipe, which was for a seasonal pie, was on a website that a doctor someone has. And where do I get the powder?

Relax, I chose to print out a different recipe. But here's the one in question-
Persimmon Pie Recipe
By Dr. Ben Kim on October 28, 2006 Desserts
Crust:

Ingredients:

1 and 1/4 cups of almonds, soaked for 6 to 12 hours, then drained
1 cup of dates, soaked for 1 to 2 hours, then drained

Directions:

Use a food processor to bring together almonds and dates. Add a little water if needed to bring almonds and dates together into a well homogenized mixture. You should end up with a coarse, slightly moist, dough-like consistency.

Press almond and date "dough" evenly into a pie plate. A 9-inch plate works well with the quantities listed above. If you don't have a pie plate, use smaller bowls - you can make a few mini pies.

Allow the crust to harden slightly in the freezer for about an hour.

Filling:

Ingredients:

6-8 medium persimmons
3-5 medium dates
3 tablespoons of psyllium powder
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground nutmeg (optional)

Answer 1

Psyllium, a bulk-forming laxative, is used to treat constipation. It absorbs liquid in the intestines, swells, and forms a bulky stool, which is easy to pass.

Don't know if I'd want to eat anything with that!!!

Answer 2

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Psyllium comes as a powder, granules, and wafer to take by mouth. It usually is taken one to three times daily. Follow the directions on the package or on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take psyllium exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

The powder and granules must be mixed with 8 ounces of a pleasant tasting liquid, such as fruit juice, right before use. Chew wafers thoroughly. For psyllium to work properly and to prevent side effects, you must drink at least 8 ounces of liquid when you take it.

Do not take psyllium for longer than 1 week unless your doctor tells you to.

Before taking psyllium,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to psyllium or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including vitamins. Do not take digoxin (Lanoxin), salicylates (aspirin), or nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Furadantin, Macrobid) within 3 hours of taking psyllium.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes mellitus, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, rectal bleeding, intestinal blockage, or difficulty swallowing.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking psyllium, call your doctor.
tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are on a low-sugar or low-sodium diet.
be careful not to breathe in psyllium powder when mixing a dose. It can cause allergic reactions when accidentally inhaled.

Answer 3

Are you sure? For a pie?

What is psyllium?
• Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative. It absorbs liquid in the intestines and makes a bulky, softer stool which is easier to pass.
• Psyllium is used to treat constipation. Psyllium may also be used to treat diarrhea and to lower cholesterol when prescribed by a doctor.
• Psyllium may also have uses other than those listed in this product guide.

Answer 4

Diabetes is usually treated through a combination of diet (low sugar), exercise and medications/insulin. Milder cases can be controlled with just diet an/or exercise while more severe cases require meds or insulin as well.
Learn more https://tr.im/kR30o

Answer 5

Interesting. Yes, to all the above. Metamucil powder is psyllium - you can find it in most any pharmacy or drugstore.

Answer 6

Metamucil.

Answer 7

since it's found in Metamucil ,you may find it in a health food store .it's usually used to help you with bulking up fecal matter so you can move your bowels

Answer 8

HAHAAHAAAA a joke right?....Thats a laxative sure u could get it from a Dr or pharmacist but use it in a recipe?..hmmmm

Answer 9

Description-

Psyllium is a seed used for medicinal purposes taken from the common fleawort, Plantago psyllium. There are about 250 species of the genus Plantago found worldwide; they belong to the Plantaginaceae family. The most common species producing seed for medicinal use, in addition to P. psyllium, are P. afra, P. isphagula, P. ovata, and P. indica.

Psyllium is extensively cultivated in many parts of the world. Shrubby perennial plants with narrow green leaves put up spikes of small flowers that mature into seedpods. The seeds and husks are harvested and used in healing. The seeds are small (1.5–2 cm) and brown or reddish-brown.

Psyllium has been used in Ayurvedic medicine in India and in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It has also been used in Europe for many years, but it has become common in North American healing only near the end of the twentieth century.

General Use-

Psyllium has three major uses that have been well documented by modern scientific research. These include the treatment of diarrhea, the relief of constipation,

and the lowering of serum cholesterol levels. Psyllium also has other uses in folk medicine that have not been scientifically documented.

Psyllium seed is high in dietary fiber, making it a good bulk laxative for treating chronic constipation. It is also used to soften stools and ease bowel movements after operations involving the anus and rectum, when hemorrhoids or anal fissures are present; or during pregnancy to lessen the strain of bowel movements.

Psyllium seeds are coated with a substance called mucilage that swells or "bulks up" when exposed to water. This extra volume stimulates the movement of material through the bowel. In addition, the moist, gummy mucilage lubricates the lining of the intestine. Both United States health authorities and the German Federal Health Agency's Commission E, established in 1978 to independently review and evaluate scientific literature and case studies pertaining to herb and plant medications, approve the use of psyllium to treat constipation.

Although it may at first seem contradictory, psyllium is also used to treat diarrhea and bouts of irritable bowel syndrome, a condition in which periods of diarrhea alternate with periods of constipation. As psyllium passes through the intestines, it absorbs water. This reduces the amount of fluid in the bowel and helps to control diarrhea. Both United States health authorities and the German Commission E have approved the use of psyllium to treat diarrhea.

German health authorities approved the use of psyllium to reduce serum cholesterol levels in the early 1990s, while the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not permit health claims to be made for psyllium content in foods until 1997. In that year, the FDA reviewed several scientific studies indicating that a daily intake of 10.2 grams of psyllium seed husk, combined with a diet low in saturated fats, consistently lowered blood cholesterol levels. A recent Canadian study confirmed the FDA's daily intake recommendation. Moreover, an improvement in the ratio of high-density lipoproteins (HDL, or "good" cholesterol) to low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) occurs when psyllium is used on a daily basis. The beneficial effects of psyllium on blood cholesterol levels, however, are somewhat affected by sex and age. Other surveys have found that wellness programs in which psyllium intake is one component of personalized behavioral change recommendations are more effective in lowering blood cholesterol than simply taking psyllium by itself.

In addition to these approved therapeutic uses, psyllium is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat stomach and intestinal ulcers, heartburn, and to help manage non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes. One Western study showed that psyllium taken before meals reduced the rise in blood glucose that occurred after eating, suggesting a valid role for psyllium in diabetes management. Additional studies are being undertaken.

In Ayurvedic medicine, psyllium is used to cleanse the body by absorbing toxins in the large intestine so that they can be eliminated from the body. Some herbalists believe this action helps reduce the risk of colon cancer. Psyllium is also used by Ayurvedic practitioners to treat urethritis.

Preparations-

Psyllium is available in a large number of over-thecounter (OTC) formulations. In the United States, it is sold in mainstream pharmacies and supermarkets under the names of Metamucil, Fiberall, and Naturacil. Many other common laxatives include psyllium as an ingredient. There has also been discussion in the United States about adding psyllium to breakfast cereals to increase their fiber content. In health food stores, psyllium can be obtained as powdered husks or seeds. A common dosage for constipation is 2 tsp of psyllium (7 g) taken with at least one glass (8 oz) of water up to three times a day. The dose for diarrhea can be even higher—up to 40 g/day.

Precautions-

Psyllium is one of the safest laxatives available for long-term use. It is widely considered by the traditional medical community as very safe and effective when used in recommended doses for constipation and diarrhea.

People who are suspected of having an intestinal blockage or who suffer from narrowing of the esophagus or any other part of the intestinal tract should not use psyllium. Pregnant women, people with diabetes, and children under age six should use psyllium only after talking to their doctor. In rare cases psyllium can cause an allergic reaction.

Although such accidents are unusual, cases have been reported of patients suffocating when a mass of psyllium blocked the upper airway. Although these incidents are most common in elderly patients or those with neurological disorders, anyone taking a psyllium preparation on a regular basis should drink a large glass of water or other liquid immediately following each dose.

Side Effects-

The use of psyllium may cause increased abdominal gas, stomach rumbling, and a feeling of bloating. A few patients may experience nausea and vomiting, but these side effects are rare.

Interactions-

Psyllium slows the absorption from the intestine of some nutrients and may change the rate of absorption of some medications. Some nutrients that may be absorbed more slowly include zinc, calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. Carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly, which may make it necessary for insulin-dependent diabetics to adjust their insulin dose. Psyllium may also slow down or decrease the absorption of certain medications, including antibiotics, warfarin, digoxin, and nitrofurantoin. To avoid this problem, psyllium should not be taken within one hour of taking other medications. Apart from affecting speed of absorption, psyllium is not known as of 2002 to interact with any standard pharmaceuticals..