A board certified internal medicine physician explains how the ground up seed coat of the Plantago ovata plant (otherwise known as psyllium) can completely change your bowel habits for the better. Psyllium, now sold as a powder or in capsules, has been used for over a thousand years to treat constipation and hemorrhoids. It is now also recognized as evidence-based treatment for irritable bowel syndrome and high cholesterol. It's cheap. Simple. Natural. What could be better?

0:00 Intro
0:10 Psyllium is a natural fiber supplement that can cure constipation.
0:38 Psyllium is the ground up seed coat (epidermis) of the Plantago ovata plant.
1:18 The psyllium seed husk contains the epidermis and the mucilage zone just above it.
1:32 Psyllium works because of its mucilage which has high water holding capacity.
1:52 When you add psyllium seed husk powder to a liquid, it turns into a gel.
2:41 Fiber are long chain of sugars that are not digested or absorbed in the human gut.
3:09 When gut bacteria break down or ferment fiber, gases are produced.
3:32 Psyllium is a gel-forming soluble fiber.
4:06 One tablespoon of ground up psyllium seed contains 5 grams of soluble fiber and 20 calories.
4:53 Psyllium absorbs a large amount of water as it passes through your gut.
5:13 Psyllium has a stool normalizing effect and can also treat mild diarrhea.
5:36 Gastroenterology guidelines recommend psyllium seed husk to treat chronic constipation.
6:24 Psyllium is safe to take daily, starting at 5 grams or 1 tablespoon.