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9 Uncommon and Serious Side Effects of Psyllium Husk

Psyllium husk fiber is just like other fiber products—it increases the amount of water in your poop, making it softer and easier to pass. However, you should be aware of the following nine side effects that can occur when taking this fiber supplement:

1.       Difficulty breathing

2.       Difficulty swallowing

3.       Chest pain

4.       Rash/hives

5.       Dizziness/nausea

6.       Rectal bleeding (ew!)

7.       Swelling of tongue, face or lips

8.       Severe abdominal pain

9.       Vomiting

If any of these side effects occur, stop taking psyllium husk immediately and contact your doctor.

You May Not Want to Use Psyllium Husk if…

There are several instances in which you should talk to your doctor before trying out psyllium husk including:

·         If you’re pregnant

·         If you have diabetes

·         If you are under 7 years old (but I doubt you’d be reading this blog if this is the case. I jest)

·         If you have difficulty swallowing

·         If you’ve had stomach issues before

While psyllium husk is a very safe supplement, it’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor before you begin taking it, especially if you fit one of the above five categories.

Psyllium Husk Seeds: Miracle Fiber Powder?

I’ve been hearing a lot about psyllium husk, a fiber supplement that is available in powder and capsule form, most typically. Psyllium husk is made from the plant called Plantago ovata. Want to know something crazy? These seeds swell up to 20 times their size when they interact with water. This is just one reason why it’s so important that you drink loads of water if you’re taking fiber supplements such as psyllium husk.

But what exactly can you expect from psyllium husk? Here are some of the benefits:

·         Acts as a lubricant

·         Fights against constipation

·         Cleanses the colon

·         Lowers cholesterol

·         Safe laxative

·         Helps with weight loss

·         Helps with blood pressure

·         Treats intestinal and stomach ulcers

·         Helps heartburn

Hey—even I’m blown away by how much these seeds can do!

What is Soluble Fiber and Where Can I Find it?

Fiber, fiber, fiber. It’s the necessary evil that makes our digestive systems cooperate. But did you know that there are different types of fiber? Soluble fiber is what helps your stomach prevent both constipation and diarrhea—it’s the fiber that helps us to have healthy digestive systems. Soluble fiber has also shown to lower cholesterol—talk about hitting two birds with one stone!

Here are some foods that are high in soluble fiber. Add them to your diet and tune your digestive system back into shape.

·         Soy

·         Rye

·         Barley

·         Oats

·         Carrots

·         Beans

·         Bananas

·         Flax seeds

What’s your favorite source for soluble fiber?

Insoluble Fiber: Push Out that Poop!

Now let’s talk about insoluble fiber. It’s the type of fiber that does not dissolve in water. Instead, it helps to push poop through your colon by softening and adding to the bulk of your stool. Yummy, right?

Here are some foods that are high in insoluble fiber:

·         Vegetables

·         Seeds

·         Fruit skins

·         Whole grain products

·         Nuts

How do you plan on adding more insoluble fiber to your diet?

Making Crohn’s Disease Patients Relatable

Crohn’s disease isn’t necessarily something that is part of your life. Therefore, it could seem as though it’s far away from you, out of your reach…nothing you need to worry about.

 In an attempt to get more attention cast towards Crohn’s disease, two Wisconsin teens are putting a face on the disease. By reading this article, I was given invaluable information about the disease itself. Did you know that almost 1.5 million people in this country are affected by this condition? It kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

 What other diseases do you think should get more attention from the media?

The Weirdness of Baby Poop

A lot of my friends are having babies, and it’s made me think about baby poop (of course—what else would an infant make your Colonista think of?). After doing some research, I found out that there are different kinds of poop for which babies are famous. Here’s a lowdown on the three most common strange types of baby poo:

1. Black Poop

Black poop can be nothing to worry about, or it could be something more serious, just like with adults. Iron can turn poop black, and this is nothing to worry about. However, this hue can also point to intestinal bleeding. Call your pediatrician if you’re worried about this and your baby is experiencing black, tarry poop.

2. Green Poop

As I said in an earlier blog post, green poo can be caused by a variety of things. When it comes to babies, their green excrement is likely caused by iron-fortified formula, jaundice, and breastfeeding (there can be an imbalance in the kid’s foremilk/hindmilk intake). If your baby has mucousy green poo, it can mean that he or she could have a dairy allergy.

3. Blood in the Poop

I know, it’s creepy, and no one likes seeing blood in their poop…but it happens. There are many possible causes for bloody poop, and not all of them are serious. Sometimes babies experience anal fissures from straining, especially if they are constipated. If you see dark, jelly-like blood, call your pediatrician and get your kid checked.

What other crazy kind of poop have you seen in your baby’s diaper?

Support for Crohn’s Disease Sufferers

If you or someone you know has been affected by Crohn’s Disease, you’re undoubtedly confused and emotional. You might not know where to turn.

 There are tons of online support groups that can help you through this tough time. Here are five of my favorites:

 

1. Crohns Forum

 

2. Healing Well Crohn’s Disease Forum

 

3. MDJunction Crohn’s Disease Support Group

 

4. eHealth CrohnDisease Forum

 

5. Revolution Health Crohn’s Disease Forum

 

Where do you get the support you need to deal with Crohn’s Disease?

Are You Sticking to Your Resolution?

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the popular types of resolutions that people typically make for the New Year.

 Now it’s time to check on you all and see how you’re doing! Have you slipped up a couple of times? Have you stayed completely faithful to your resolution? Or have you just given it all up (I hope not!)?

 As for me, I have lost six pounds and have been pretty good at sticking to my diet resolution. However, I’m still struggling with the exercise part of it.

 Here’s to you and your resolutions!

Probiotics to be Regulated in India

While browsing through articles about probiotics, I found a particular fascinating article, “Probiotic health foods may now be regulated.” According to the article, probiotics have become such a thriving industry in

India that companies are drooling to get some of the profits. Because of this sudden rise in probiotics’ popularity, the Indian government believes it’s time to set guidelines into action.

These guidelines will outline standards that need to be adhered to if a company wants to attach the probiotic label to their goods.

This is good to know. It seems as though probiotics are finally being taken seriously, and those of us who use probiotics can hope to be consuming regulated products sooner rather than later.