Keeping up with proper digestion is key if you’re looking to burn stored body fat and say goodbye to toxins. Nobody wants to deal with the discomfort of a bloated stomach, right? On her Instagram account, physiotherapist Mélanie Frey promotes the benefits of a relatively unknown superfood that provides relief for constipation and supports the digestive system: psyllium.
As reported by Voici, this seed, also called ispaghul, originates from a plantain species found mainly in the desert regions of North Africa and Southwest Asia. Cultivated since ancient times, Ayurvedic medicine utilizes psyllium as a gentle laxative that also helps speed up fat burning.
Psyllium, an Unknown Yet Powerful Ally for Weight Loss
Psyllium’s benefits are densely packed within its husk—the seed’s protective layer—Frey emphasizes. She details that this husk boasts an abundance of fiber and mucilage, with the mucilage playing a crucial role in bestowing psyllium with its laxative effects and its capacity to soothe and heal the digestive system.
Further explaining, Frey describes how psyllium’s mucilage expands when it encounters water, transforming into a dense gel that coats and lubricates the intestinal walls. This action reduces inflammation and irritation, while it also promotes the movement of the intestines known as peristalsis, thereby facilitating the passage of stools.
For convenient use, psyllium is available as a versatile powder that you can easily blend into a variety of foods such as yogurt, compotes, and drinks, or incorporate into recipes for bread, cakes, and pancakes. You can find it in two forms: brown and blond psyllium. From these options, the nutritionist recommends the blond variant due to its higher mucilage content, containing “30% mucilage as opposed to the 10% to 12% found in brown psyllium.” She encourages starting with a modest dosage of one teaspoon per day with meals in the initial week, and then, if needed, gradually increasing the quantity.
Incorporating psyllium into your daily diet not only aids with digestion but also enhances your body’s ability to burn fat. This natural superfood could be a powerful tool in your weight management arsenal, helping to streamline your path to a healthier weight through its supportive and mild laxative properties.
