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Advice on high colesterol Ishabgul, more commonly spelt as psyllium husk or isapgol, is basically the Indian name for psyllium seed husks. Psyllium seed husks are an excellent source of dietary fiber, and particularly in India, they have traditionally been used to obtain relief from a variety of digestive problems, including constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
In recent years however, there has been a lot of interest and a good deal of research into whether psyllium seed husk can also help control cholesterol.
As yet it is not entirely clear how it helps and whether the important thing is dietary fiber or something in psyllium itself, but it seems quite certain that it does reduce cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. As with any other remedy however, by itself psyllium is not of much use. If you have a cholesterol problem, you need to make several other changes in your diet and lifestyle. Avoid high fat foods, and saturated fats in particular. You should also increase your intake of omega 3 fatty acids, as they too help control cholesterol. Fish is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, as is flaxseed, which in addition contains plenty of insoluble fiber and offers several other health benefits.
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