Those that use psyllium husks...how?

[Pie4me]

Does anyone use psyllium on a daily basis?
Do you take it by mouth or mix it up?
How much is enough daily? Is it alright
to use it daily? Thanks for the info as I
need something to help "aid me" at times
and looking for something natural.

[Pam_C]

I use the pills. I take 2-3 daily. I got them real cheap on swansonvitamins.com. You have to make sure you read the ingredients though. Some have stuff added.

[not2late]

NEVER,EVER, EVER just swallow some dry psyllium husks. There's actually a warning printed on psyllium bottles to this effect because psyllium swells up when moistened and the manufacturers warn it might produce choking if it swells up in your throat.

All fiber supplements have a "limit". If you are using it as a daily fiber supplement, you take 1 tablespoon daily. In fact, Dr. Atkins recommends that during Induction you take a daily fiber supplement (Chapter 11 DANDR 2002).

If you are using it to relieve constipation, you start off with 1 tablespoon daily and increase or decrease that amount. Please note that these fibers take a few days to work. So don't be impatient that you took a tablespoon of psyllium this morning and you're still constipated at noontime.

Mix the psyllium in some liquid or into a soft food like mayonnaise, tuna salad, scrambled eggs, etc. That will help make it more palatable.

[tickletussler]

Re: Those that use psyllium husks...how?

Hi,

I use psyllium husks daily because I was such a big veggie eater before Atkins that now I'm constantly constipated without those husks. In the evenings I was mixing quarter cup husks with water and just gulping most of it down (doesn't taste of much, but if you leave it too long, it tastes like glug). Now I have to up the amount and add 1 tablespoon in the mornings because for some reason the longer I'm on Atkins the more constipated I get despite eating lots of high fibre foods (like spinach)

Listen to Megs - just start off with 1 tablespoon and increase as you need it but it does take more than a day to take effect. If you take to much from the beginning you just end up feeling bloated and I heard from some that you fart a lot.

I know some of the other guys also use flaxseed meal (linseed) but that has more carbs for the same amount of husks, but you can use flaxseed meal to make induction-friendly bread (so I've heard). Try one and see what works best for you.

Cheers

[byugrad]

On the days that I make a yogurt and berry smoothie for breakfast (I've done all the rungs in OWL so it's "legal" for me), I add 1 T of psyllium husks to the blender.

On non-smoothie days, I take the capsules (Metamucil + Calcium) with 16 oz of water.
Nancy

[not2late]

Don't worry tickle, the higher you go on the carb ladder and the higher fiber veggies you eat, particularly the leafy green veggies like kale, chard, broccoli rabe, etc. , the less you'll have to rely on fiber supplements. I don't use them anymore, because I pick the higher fiber veggies (and the OWL veggie amounts don't hurt either)

[tickletussler]

That's a relief to hear! *phew*

Thanks Megs for the tip - much appreciated!

[maribelle]

I just got the capsules at Walmart....5 a day in the morning, lots of water with them, and throughout the day, and I haven't had any of the binding problems I had before with this WOE. Also, it stopped my upset stomach.

[SugarFreeSheila]

I use the powder & incorporate 1 tablespoon a day (10 grams of fiber). I mentioned this earlier in another post, but I will sometimes put it in melted Smuckers peanut butter, or add it into a shake. It has a nice little grainy, nutty flavor.

I've attempted adding flax seed oil to shakes, though ... never again.

[sadie147]

I add it to the flax bun recipe, to peanut butter, to smoothies etc. I used to buy the capsules but I find the husks in bulk much much cheaper. I try to take it every day, the daily recommendation for fibre (well here anyway) is 25 g a day (which is a lot!). I try to get in my fibre just for health reasons alone. it can reduce the risks of many things, including colon cancer (my mother had it, so i figure my chances are higher).

But like everyone has said you must start off with a smaller amount and work your way up..I actually started with 1 tespoon a day, and since i'm taking flax as well daily, i only use about a tbpsn or 2 per day to keep my fibre intake up (as well and tons of veggies!).

Also you have to remember when taking fibre supplements such as psyllium you MUST MUST keep your water intake up! It will actually cause you serious constipation issues if you don't consume alot of water.

HTH

[clairebear]

*warning - this post contains references to frankenfood*

I have a protein shake for brekkie each weekday morning. This is good for me for two reasons, firstly, it is a convenience thing and secondly I want to be sure I'm getting a good protein hit as I go to the gym most mornings.

I throw the shake powder, four ice cubes, 200mL of water and two teaspoons of psyllium in the blender whilst I'm running around the house looking for my shoes/keys/phone etc

I find the pysllium, along with the ice, gives the shake the consistency of a McDonalds thickshake.

I take the husks just as a preventative rather than a cure, as I am lucky enough to have never actually been constipated on the WOE - I think it is because I drink so much water![/i]