Psyllium, otherwise known as "I think I'm gonna puke"

arathena720
arathena720 Posts: 449 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So despite having a good BMI, not being overweight, almost never eating fried foods, no red meat, no meat really other than fish, lots of veggies, low to no saturated fat, I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol. My doctor says I can try adding fiber to my diet. With almost no bread products, he thinks I might not be getting enough fiber. So, since I don't want to eat more whole wheat anything because I'm on a low carb diet, and since the other products are basically chemical s**tstorms, I decided to try psyllium. My question is, how the hell am I supposed to choke it down? You mix it in water, it doesn't dissolve, so you have to chug this stuff and it starts to concentrate at the bottom of the glass and then you feel like you're going to puke it back up. Any ideas? What can I stuff it in so I can actually choke it down? I need to get down at least 2 tablespoons a day.
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Replies

  • alfiedn
    alfiedn Posts: 425 Member
    There's a lot of fiber in whole veggies, fruits, and beans and lentils also have fiber. I'm not sure about psyllium, I feel like I saw it in a recipe once? Would it be possible to mix it into a soup?
  • aquarabbit
    aquarabbit Posts: 1,622 Member
    My husband adds it to his smoothies. You could also try little things. I find that adding some flax seeds to my oatmeal helps me get all my fiber. When artichokes are in season I have to make sure I don't go too far over! My husband really likes flax mug muffins. It's 1/4 cup flax meal, 1 egg, 1 tsp oil, 1/2 tsp baking powder. You just mix it up in a mug and microwave it for 1 minute. He also added a tsp of psyllium in sometimes. We have a friend who puts it in everything. Oatmeal, baked goods, protein shakes, in with his veggies and cheese. I don't know a lot about it, but I don't think that taking it in water is the only way to include it.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Eat something fibrous that doesn't make you puke.
    Mixed berries.
  • GEMMA_2014
    GEMMA_2014 Posts: 81
    Fiberwell Gummies are great. They are sugar free and taste like gummie bears. They have 5 grams of fiber. The same amount as in a slice of bread. You have to be careful not to eat too many because they taste great. . I get them Amazon.com, but I think you can get them at any pharmacy.
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    Psyllium makes a great laxative but can cause cramping.
  • Blacklance36
    Blacklance36 Posts: 755 Member
    Try mixing orange flavored psyllium with orange juice.
  • ChrisM32205
    ChrisM32205 Posts: 218 Member
    You can also get them in capsule form. That's how I get additional fiber when I feel I need it.
  • wendyapple
    wendyapple Posts: 323 Member
    you can get psyllium capsules from the vitamin shoppe: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/psyllium-husk-acidophilus-600-capsules/vs-2182?sourceType=sc&source=FG&adGroup=60-80&keyword=VS-2182&cm_mmc=Google+Shopping-_-Product+Listing+Ads-_-60-80-_-VS-2182&gclid=CNXTx5rTrLwCFXHxOgod9EYATQ&gclsrc=aw.ds#.Uu3Pf2RdU9w
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    almost never eating fried foods, no red meat, no meat really other than fish, lots of veggies, low to no saturated fat, I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol. My doctor says I can try adding fiber to my diet. . . . almost no bread products. . . I'm on a low carb diet

    I don't understand what you do eat. I do not understand how you can do low carb with almost no meat and no saturated fat.

    When I'm low on fiber I will have a meal with Mission brand "carb balance" tortillas. The medium ones have 13 grams of fiber and the burrito sized ones have 26 grams. I don't know if they qualify for the how low carbs you want. Lentils are also great, but have a lot of starch, too. Ground flax seed is another option.
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    Brown rice and oats.

    .... but you said low carb? how low carb are we talking here? I mean if you eat 'lots of veggies' I honestly don't see how your fiber intake could be too low - frankly I'd tell your doctor how many grams of fiber you eat in a day. It sounds like an easy answer that doctors give because they assume you don't eat a lot of vegetables like most Americans.

    But since you do, I doubt taking fiber supplements is going to help. Do you exercise? If not, I'd go there rather than changing your diet if your diet is what you like eating.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Brown rice and oats.

    .... but you said low carb? how low carb are we talking here? I mean if you eat 'lots of veggies' I honestly don't see how your fiber intake could be too low - frankly I'd tell your doctor how many grams of fiber you eat in a day. It sounds like an easy answer that doctors give because they assume you don't eat a lot of vegetables like most Americans.

    But since you do, I doubt taking fiber supplements is going to help. Do you exercise? If not, I'd go there rather than changing your diet if your diet is what you like eating.

    I'm assuming since OP is dealing with a cholesterol issue and prescribed Psyllium that they specifically need soluble fiber, which is a challenge to find in low-carb approved foods.

    OP Here's a list of soluble fiber food sources.
    http://www.dietitians.ca/getattachment/3bb6330f-0ab2-48fc-9d24-1303ad70003d/Factsheet-Food-Sources-of-Soluble-Fibre.pdf.aspx

    I'm not sure which things you would/would not eat.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I would get "Bran Buds" (which have psyllium) and add them as a crunchy topping to other foods that you normally eat. They are pretty good in yogurt, for example.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    What is high about your cholesterol?...........keep in mind very few Dr's really understand cholesterol, maybe talk to a specialist in lipids.
  • paprad
    paprad Posts: 321 Member
    Anecdotally - i know of people whose cholesterol levels have dropped at least 10% after taking psyllium.

    I'd suggest you don't start with a very high dose - just 5 gm per day till your tummy gets used to it.

    You need to mix it with a lot of water and glug it while it's still a suspension - before it starts to solidify into a gel - at least 2 large glasses for ever 10 gm. It's not so bad if you stir it vigorously and glug it quick. if you let it hesitate and let it stand, well, yes, it will solidify and be gloopy to drink.
  • chickidee87
    chickidee87 Posts: 63 Member
    Try Psyllium Husk Caps. I take 3 twice a day, no taste, and helps me with my fiber. You can find a big bottle on amazon here for $14

    http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Psyllium-Husk-500mg-Capsules/dp/B0013OW2KS/


    That's the exact kind I take.
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  • Eleonora91
    Eleonora91 Posts: 688 Member
    I take Psyllum twice a day: I put a spoon of powder on the bottom of the glass, then pour water on it, then mix it for 5-10 seconds very fast, and then drink it quickly. It does melt if you do like this.
    I am taking this supper since I haven't been able to properly use the toilet since I started dieting (I was never that efficient anyway), I still have lots of fruit, try to have fiber biscuits and so on, so I don't think it's because of fibers lack, but it's helping a bit anyway.
    It's not a laxative anyway, it doesn't work if you're already bloated, it works if you take it day by day, and everyone's got a different result, I am the proof it's not a miracle. :/

    Also, here in Italy we have different tastes - Red Orange, Vanilla, Strawberry and Green Tea. I've tried red orange and it's disgusting, I'm actually using strawberry for the second time and it's much better, I'd like to try Vanilla too but I still haven't found the big bin format in this flavour.
  • PinkNinjaLaura
    PinkNinjaLaura Posts: 3,202 Member
    Anecdotally - i know of people whose cholesterol levels have dropped at least 10% after taking psyllium.

    I'd suggest you don't start with a very high dose - just 5 gm per day till your tummy gets used to it.

    You need to mix it with a lot of water and glug it while it's still a suspension - before it starts to solidify into a gel - at least 2 large glasses for ever 10 gm. It's not so bad if you stir it vigorously and glug it quick. if you let it hesitate and let it stand, well, yes, it will solidify and be gloopy to drink.

    My cholesterol level dropped nearly 100 points when I was regularly drinking psyllium. I'm trying to get back in the habit of drinking it daily. Metamucil has a smoother texture one, which helps. I just bought the pink lemonade flavor. Your water can't be too cold or it won't break up (I use room temperature water). Also ^^^ glug it while it's still in suspension. Sometimes I'll stop halfway and give it a quick stir again because it's already started settling on the bottom. Have a second glass of water on hand to drink immediately too.
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    So despite having a good BMI, not being overweight, almost never eating fried foods, no red meat, no meat really other than fish, lots of veggies, low to no saturated fat, I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol. My doctor says I can try adding fiber to my diet. With almost no bread products, he thinks I might not be getting enough fiber. So, since I don't want to eat more whole wheat anything because I'm on a low carb diet, and since the other products are basically chemical s**tstorms, I decided to try psyllium. My question is, how the hell am I supposed to choke it down? You mix it in water, it doesn't dissolve, so you have to chug this stuff and it starts to concentrate at the bottom of the glass and then you feel like you're going to puke it back up. Any ideas? What can I stuff it in so I can actually choke it down? I need to get down at least 2 tablespoons a day.

    Have you always had cholesterol level issues, or is this a new thing?
  • MuseofSong
    MuseofSong Posts: 322 Member
    Chia seeds! Great source of nutritional fiber! 0 net carbs, literally 5 carbs in, 5 carbs out.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Umm, since your diet is highly restricted and there are a lot of thing you do not eat, you should be aware the fiber, specifically psyllium MAY, if taken excessively, affect the absorption of protein, minerals and vitamins. Don't take too much.
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,072 Member
    Give it up....if it makes you want to puke try another direction of getting fiber...sweet potatoes, legumes of all kinds, and veggies of all kinds.
  • Carol_Magee
    Carol_Magee Posts: 69 Member
    Tomato juice will keep it suspended.
  • arathena720
    arathena720 Posts: 449 Member
    This is all great advice, thanks! I've recently started adding chia seeds into my diet, as well as hemp seeds. I already eat plenty of vegetables, which is where the majority of my carbs come from. I eat a piece of cheese every day, so I do get some saturated fat, which I'm going to cut out. I'm thinking of switching my eggs in the morning to a smoothie so I can stuff the psyllium in it, That will also cut out the saturated fat from the cheese and the eggs plus I can add the chia seeds, too.
  • Eleonora91
    Eleonora91 Posts: 688 Member
    I forgot you can also add it to yogurts, and other drinks of your choice. That's written on the box at least... :3
  • marinashakeel
    marinashakeel Posts: 263 Member
    So despite having a good BMI, not being overweight, almost never eating fried foods, no red meat, no meat really other than fish, lots of veggies, low to no saturated fat, I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol. My doctor says I can try adding fiber to my diet. With almost no bread products, he thinks I might not be getting enough fiber. So, since I don't want to eat more whole wheat anything because I'm on a low carb diet, and since the other products are basically chemical s**tstorms, I decided to try psyllium. My question is, how the hell am I supposed to choke it down? You mix it in water, it doesn't dissolve, so you have to chug this stuff and it starts to concentrate at the bottom of the glass and then you feel like you're going to puke it back up. Any ideas? What can I stuff it in so I can actually choke it down? I need to get down at least 2 tablespoons a day.
    /
    disolve it in a glass of milk.. that ought do it,
  • nchrty
    nchrty Posts: 57 Member
    There is a clear psyllium product out there that you absolutely will not taste or see when you add it to liquid. Try that?
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  • drbiayasmin
    drbiayasmin Posts: 6 Member
    i add a little bit to half a cup of yogurt, add a little water to make it less thick, mix and eat it like a yogurt snack. It makes it easier to go down though it takes longer than mixing it in water and chugging down which makes you want to puke.

    Another alternative is to put a spoon of dry psyllium in your mouth and take water and just drink it down.
  • LAT1963
    LAT1963 Posts: 1,375 Member
    The cheese isn't enough to impact your cholesterol level. Go ahead and keep eating it.

    Cholesterol is excreted in bile in response to fat intake in the diet, to help you digest fats. Those fats, cholesterol from food, and the cholesterol from the bile are then absorbed from the gut back into your body. A good portion of your cholesterol is recycled this way from the cholesterol you just secreted in the bile to digest the fats.

    By eating fiber, your food stays in your gut for a shorter period of time, so there is less time to absorb cholesterol (whether from food or recycling from bile). This is why any food high in fiber gets labeled as "lowers cholesterol"--you poop more often, so you dump cholesterol more often. This is also how the cholesterol drug "cholestyramine" works.

    Eating a little bit of fat (hello cheese!) is what stimulates you to excrete bile in the first place. The cheese is more fat than cholesterol, so on balance you're excreting more cholesterol in the bile than you are gaining by eating the cheese. If you can reduce the amount of that bile-cholesterol that your body reabsorbs, by pooping more often because you have fiber in your diet, then the cheese may actually incrementally help you dump more cholesterol.

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