The psyllium plant has had a long history of use in various industries and mainly as a dietary fiber supplement. It is a gentle bulk forming laxative that has for a long time been used to promote the functioning of the large bowels of the body. Recent research has shown that the plant fiber has good effect on various conditions of the circulatory system.

There has been much international intrest by the public, research organizations and regulators in the medical application of foods with specific health benefits (functional foods), that favorably modify physiologic function of the body. The psyllium has been at the center of research on these kinds of foods.
There has also been a lot of interest by  psyllium husk manufacturers to produce these functional foods and ensure efficacy of action.

Gastrointestinal Regulation

The physiologically active component of the psyllium husk has been shown to be a highly branched, neutral arabinoxylan consisting of a xylose backbone and arabinose /xylose containing side chains. When compared to other cereals that are extensively fermented in the colon, the psyllium husk possesses a unique feature that prevents its fermentation by the typical colonic micro flora. The plant fiber is classified as the mucilaginous fiber due to its powerful ability to form a gel in water and research has shown that the gel forming fraction amounts to 55 – 60% of the husk. This component is responsible for the laxative properties of the psyllium husk powder.

Constipation and Diarrhea

The fiber promotes laxation through increasing the colonic contents and stimulates better propulsion. The unfermented fiber and accompanying moisture held are important in increasing the stool mass. They also provide a good substrate for microbial growth, hence a greater bacterial mass. Psyllium containing stools also contain an unfermented gel that acts as an emollient and lubricant for better stool passage.

Bowel Diseases

Supplementation of diet with psyllium is helpful in the treatment of irritable bowel diseases, inflammatory bowels disease and ulcerative colitis. The beneficial effects on colitis and inflammatory bowel disease have been observed to be due to the anti-constipation activity and increased levels of the short chain fatty acids called butyrate. Research has shown that the anaerobic fermentation of the psyllium fiber in the intestines results in considerable production of the short chain fatty acids acetate, propionate and the butyrate.

Effect on Colon Cancer

The short chained fatty acids and mainly butyric acid nourishes the colonocytes, which is important in colon cancer prevention. This chemical also exerts potent inhibition of inflammation and carcinogenesis to build more defenses against colon cancer.

Prebiotic Effects

Prebiotic foods are ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and activity of the bifidobacteria and the lactobacilli in the gut and thus have great health benefits. Psyllium husk has been seen to promote growth of the bifidobacteria in the human gut and thus act as a pre-biotic.

Conclusion

Due to these characteristics of the Psyllium, various commercial uses have emerged for the product in food, pharmaceutical and other industries. Although dietary fiber is best obtained from consuming whole foods, fiber supplementation with the Psyllium husk powder is also recommended to close the fiber gap.

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Psyllium Production, Processing, Export & Use in India

Psyllium is a plant or rather herb as most people know it. It is also known as isabgol, ispaghula or isabgula. The herb is used in production of psyllium husk and psyllium powder. Ispaghula husk seeds are indigestible making them a source of soluble fiber. Psylliums high mucilage content makes it a true dietary fiber. Psyllium husk is the covering of seeds that grow in the plant .Psyllium powder is the end product after psyllium husk have been processed and crashed.

India dominates the world market in production and export of psyllium husk powder. It provides approximately 80% of psyllium husk powder in the world market. India has the upper hand when it comes to isabgol because of certain factors.

•             India’s light soils and warm temperate regions highly promote the crops growth. The crop grows well on light soils. Soils with poor drainage are not conducive for good growth of the plant.

•             It also thrives well in warm-temperate regions with cool and dry weather and most regions in India are characterized by this weather.

•             India’s large farms of up to 55,000 acres promote large scale farming of isabgula.

•             The countries high population level makes it easy and cheap to obtain labor force required in farming the crop.

•             India’s heavy investment in building irrigation schemes has also helped farmers grow ispaghula on a wider basis.

In India, production of psyllium husk and psyllium powder involves a series of steps.

•             Raw seed are cleaned by mechanical processes through various steps.

•             After cleaning seeds from the cleaning and pre cleaning chambers, de-husking processes begin. The process consists of crushing the seed with emery mills and separation of husk in a closed circuit of an automatic pneumatic aspiration system.

•             The psyllium seed husk is then separated from the remainder of the seed by using slight mechanic pressure. The seeds are crashed between rotating rollers and plates.

•             Psyllium husk is then purified by sieving the mixture to separate the husk from the remainder of the seed part.

•             To obtain high yield of pure quality psyllium seed husk, there is intact milling of psyllium seed in a mill which causes the husk to be fragmented by collision under certain conditions. The husk is fractured separating non-husk portion of the isabgol seed.

•             Psyllium powder is obtained through crashing the pure husk psyllium.

•             The products are then packaged under total hygienic control. Packaging includes uncoated and coated Uv stabilized PP woven fabric without liner, HDPE laminated paper bags with inner poly-liner, laminated PP woven bags with inner poly, fiber paper drum and silver plated ring with inner poly-liner.

The end products of isbagula are exported to countries such as United Kingdom, United States of America, Norway, Italy, France, Korea etc. India’s ispaghula farms are spread in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Farmers in Madhya Pradesh are also catching on. In India, there are various applications of psyllium and its products for medical and industry uses. In the country, the plant has been long known for its healing properties and traditional uses. It is a major component of Indian medicinal herbs used in ayurvedic and allopathic preparations. Indians also use it in remedying constipation problems. For more details on psyllium husk and powder please visit: https://www.altrafine.com/psyllium_husk_and_powder_applications.html

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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What is psyllium husk?

Psyllium husk also known as isabgol is the white fibrous material that is derived from the coating of the seeds of plantago ovata which grows natively in India. The plant is hygroscopic and expands to become mucilaginous. The indigestible husks are considered a pure source of dietary fibre, and are the only part of the psyllium plant used in manufacturing psyllium products.

The psyllium husks are used in whole or dried and chopped or powdered for easier consumption. Whichever of these forms one chooses to use, they have to take them by mixing them with water or any other fluid.

Psyllium Husk Powder

This is the fine powder that is derived from the grinding of psyllium husks .It is pulverized from the psyllium husks, and is a natural agent mainly used to provide dietary fiber.

Regions where it’s Highly Grown

The plant grows worldwide but flourishes well in the middle east and grows natively in India .It also grows in Madhya ,Pradesh and in some parts of Rajasthan .Each of these plants can produce up to 15000 tiny ,slightly gel-coated seeds from which the husks are removed. Favorable conditions for growth include good sun exposure, less frost and in well drained soils.

Properties of Psyllium Husks:

Nutritional Value of Psyllium Husk

Psyllium husks consist of about 30% mucilage, xyclose , arabanose and galacutronic acids. Additionally ,every 100 grams of contains 71 grams of soluble fiber. It also contains glycosides, proteins, vitamin B1 choline and polysaccharides .All these components contribute to the high quality of nutrition provided by the psyllium husks. Popular Names of Psyllium:

Psyllium plant is also commonly known as fleas seed, ispaghulla, psyllium seed, Indian plantago in India , spogel and sand plantanian.

Uses of Psyllium Husk for Pharmaceutical Industry

Psyllium is used in the pharmaceutical industry to making pharmaceutical formulations as a lubricating laxative, which is considered helpful in treating intestinal tract problems .

It is also used as a thickening agent during the formulation of capsules.

The psyllium husks are also used in the pharmaceutical industry for neutraceuticals , medicinal application.

How is Psyllium Powder used for Health Care?

Psyllium powder is known for its therapeutic and medicinal value. It is known to prevent and cure a wide range of medical conditions some of which include:

Reducing Risk of Heart Disease

Psyllium powder which is derived from psyllium husks reduces the risk of heart disease by reducing the cholesterol levels .The soluble fibers present in the psyllium powder binds with acids produced by bile which plays a vital role in the digestion of fats which are found in cholesterol . Through excretion of these fats this process helps in reducing cholesterol levels in the human body.

Relieving Constipation:

The psyllium seed powder contains hemicelluloses are used to relieve irritable bowel syndrome constipation and diarrhea and are used a a regular dietary supplement for purposes of improving and maintain regular GI transit.

Treating Diabetes:

The high fiber contained in psyllium powder derived from the husks helps lower insulin and blood sugar levels for diabetic people and reduces the chances of getting the disease for the people at risk of contracting the disease.

Hemmorids:

Doctors recommend psyllium powder which helps soften stool and reduces the pin associated with hemmorids.

High Blood Pressure:

Adding about 12 g of soluble psyllium powder to your diet helps to reduce blood pressure. In overweight people with hypertension psyllium powder helps reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Obesity:

Psyllium powder helps in reducing the human appetite. This can be used as a therapy for obese people who are trying to watch their weight.

Other psyllium health care uses include treating inflammatory bowel disease, treating diarrhea and treating irritable bowel syndrome.

Available Forms:

Psyllium is available in dry seed or husk form as well as pysllium powder form. All these forms need to be accompanied with lots of water.

Psyllium husks and powder are renowned for their efficiency in treating medical conditions. It is used both as a natural home remedy and also available in capsules that are available in hospitals upon doctor’s recommendation. Apart from its medicinal value psyllium is also widely used in the industrial and manufacturing sectors.

To know more about Psyllium husks and powder please visit: https://www.altrafine.com/psyllium_husk_and_powder.html

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Psyllium Husk Powder Should Always be Part of a Healthy Eating Plan

The psyllium or ispaghula husk comes from a herb which is known as Plantago ovata and is most commonly found in India where growing conditions are their most ideal. There are different species of psyllium husk, but it is the seed husks from Plantago ovata which have the highest fiber content. Isabgol is a natural plant laxative which is produced from psyllium, producing bulk in the bowels and allowing for easy elimination.

A Unique Functional Food to Ward of a Host of Ailments

The herb has so many extraordinary health benefits, and it is important to take in organic husks whenever possible. The husks can either be used whole in their natural state or they can be powdered as this makes for easier consumption. Make sure to buy psyllium husks with no harmful additives like sodium, cholesterol, sugar or fat as this will ensure you enjoy maximum health benefits.

Because psyllium husk is a source of soluble dietary fiber, it is excellent for relieving irritable bowel syndrome and constipation and is capable of protecting the colon and removing toxins. Recent research shows that it has numerous other health benefits like lowering cholesterol, treating obesity and diabetes and promoting general good health.

The Harvesting Process

The seed itself is tasteless, and after they are harvested the husk is removed by a grinding process after which purification takes place. They are cleaned and polished after which they go through grinding mills for the husk to be removed. Pure husk is achieved by processing and removing impurities with blowers, and always under extreme hygienic conditions. Psyllium husk powder is then produced by milling the processed husk to a required particle size. The beauty of this powder is that it disperses more easily in liquid than the husks, making it easier to drink.

Medicinal Applications of Psyllium Husk & Powder in Food

Psyllium husk as well as the seed can be consumed directly while the powder is often used as an ingredient in different medicinal applications. Some foods with at least 1.7 grams of psyllium in them even have a label stating that when consumed as part of a low-fat diet, psyllium husks can reduce the risk of heart disease. It is strange but true that psyllium is not only useful during diarrhea because of its binding qualities, it also has the ability to relieve chronic constipation.

As with humans, fiber is important in the nutrition of horses, dogs and cats. After surgery a cat or dog battles to eat normally, leading to constipation. Constipation is also listed as one of the side effects of medications after surgery. Adding fiber can certainly help to relieve constipation.

Know more applications of psyllium husk & powder please https://www.altrafine.com/psyllium_husk_and_powder_applications.html.

Cats groom themselves, ingesting hair which then accumulates in the stomach and small intestine. These hair balls are then vomited up. To eliminate hair balls easily, psyllium husk fiber powder is added to the cat’s food and elimination of the hair balls is smooth and easy.

Other reasons why psyllium husk powder is so beneficial in pet food:

■it controls weight

■forms a gel with water in the colon and this in turn lubricates the stool, making it easier to pass

■for diarrhea in a pet, psyllium power absorbs excess water in the colon and makes the stool firmer

■the powder helps to satisfy the appetite of dogs and cats

Detoxifies the Body on an Ongoing Basis

Our health is affected by the foods we eat and healthy living can come naturally. Constipation is a constitutional problem and can be easily treated by using psyllium seed husks. It has so many health benefits and is excellent for flatulence as well as infrequent hard and painful stools in both pets and humans.

It can be a relief knowing that these problems, caused by our modern foods which are devoid of fiber, can be remedied by simply increasing the amount of fiber in the diet accompanied by plenty of water. You don’t have to resort to harmful medications when nature has provided us with a simple, natural and easy alternative.

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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