Psyllium

Plantago afra, P. ovata

prebiotic · nuts & seeds

Fine seed husks of a plantain from dry regions, isabgol, which swell into a thick gel in water. They provide mucilage and arabinoxylans.

Origin

India and Iran

Season (United States)

imported · all year round

Preparation

This one is not soaked in advance: it gels in 1 to 2 minutes. Stir it into a large glass of water, drink it straight away, then a second glass after it — taken dry, or with too little water, it swells where it should not. Same caution as konjac glucomannan, and never just before lying down.

Molecules

Arabinoxylans · Mucilages

Did you know?

Psyllium is a plantain: its genus name, Plantago, comes from the Latin planta, “sole of the foot”, for the shape of some species' leaves.