Psyllium Seed Powder vs. Psyllium Husk Powder: What’s the Difference?
I formulated ColonEaze~Firm with only psyllium seed, and ColonEaze~Move with a beneficial 2:1 ratio of psyllium seed to psyllium husk.
Why is this important and what is the difference between psyllium seed powder and psyllium husk powder?
This paper explains the main differences, as well as the benefits of each, but I’ve pulled out the important bits for you here:
“Anaerobic fermentation of the soluble non-starch polysaccharides from psyllium seed results in the production of the short-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate, and butyrate in the intestines.
Psyllium husk contains only the epidermis of the seed, while the actual seed has a higher amount of fermentable fiber.
Because of this fiber content, psyllium seed degrades more slowly than pectin and produces fairly large amounts of butyrate and acetate.
Butyric acid exhibits antineoplastic activity against colorectal cancer, is the preferred oxidative substrate for colonocytes, and may be helpful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
In a study of resected colorectal cancer patients, those given 20 grams of psyllium seed daily for three months exhibited an average increase of butyric acid production of 42 percent, which decreased to pretreatment levels within two months of cessation of supplementation.”
The Role of Butyric Acid in Gut Health
The gut uses butyric acid as an anti-inflammatory. So butyric acid benefits those with gut disorders like ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, and Crohn’s disease because this short-chain fatty acid helps restore the integrity of the gut lining while also reducing inflammation.
“In an open label, randomized, multi-center trial of persons with ulcerative colitis, psyllium seed supplementation (10 grams twice daily) was as effective as mesalamine in maintaining remission. This effect may likely be due to increased levels of butyric acid with psyllium supplementation. (1)”
Psyllium seed and husk bulks up the stool (attracts/holds water if your stool is too hard, or, binds poop together into one stool if your stool is loose or watery), exercises the colon, evens out peristalsis rhythm, helps produce butyrate, while it also becomes a food for probiotics. All of which help heal/maintain the integrity of the colon mucosal lining.
Due to psyllium’s stool bulking ability, it is also a valuable detox agent and helps sweep out toxins, die-off substances, or dead pathogens.
As per the study above, since psyllium seed is a soluble fiber, it is more fermentable by colonic bacteria, and thus results in greater production of butyrate/butyric acid. So butyric acid is the result of beneficial bacteria fermenting the soluble fibers from the psyllium seed powder; the probiotics feed on it and produce butyrate as a result.
How Psyllium Seed and Husk Benefit Colon Health
However, the 30% insoluble fiber in psyllium husk is helpful in moving the stool along the intestinal tract (it is a great bulking agent and indigestible). You want this to happen if you’re constipated. But you don’t want to stimulate bowel movements if you suffer from diarrhea.
This is why ColonEaze~Move contains both psyllium husk and psyllium seed; but ColonEaze~Firm only contains psyllium seed.
If you tend towards constipation, you can also combine ColonEaze~Move or 1 tbsp. psyllium husk powder, with 1 tbsp. bentonite clay for short-term, targeted detox.
However, I don’t recommend you use bentonite for longer than 2-3 weeks, since it adsorbs all bacteria in the gut – which reminds me, make sure you take your probiotics far away from your bentonite clay!
For example, take your ColonEaze/psyllium husk and bentonite in the morning and afternoon, and then your probiotics last thing before bed.
If your stool transit time is already fast, then you may respond better to psyllium seed, rather than husk, mixed with bentonite clay.
Detoxifying with Psyllium: Sweeping Out Toxins
The other really important thing to know about bulking agents like psyllium, chia, flax, etc. is that you need to start with a small amount and gradually build up to the recommended dosage.
Psyllium will cause big changes in your colon, it doesn’t matter that the changes are beneficial, you still need to give your gut time to adjust to increased butyrate, pathogen-clearance and detox, and a change in stool consistency and peristalsis.
Otherwise, you may get gas and bloating as a result, until your gut adjusts. So best to start very slowly and have a more pleasant experience.
You definitely want to be taking probiotics to maximize the benefits of the butyric acid. But make sure you take your probiotics well away from your psyllium. For example, my assistant Linsy – who’s repeatedly used BCPH (bentonite clay psyllium husk) for detox and is super sensitive. Find it works best to use this schedule:
Probiotics — wait 20 mins
Breakfast — wait 2 hrs
Anti-pathogens — wait 20 mins
BCPH — wait 1 hr
Lunch
References and Sources
(1) Source: Fernandez-Banares F, Hinojosa J, Sanchez-Lombrana JL, et al. Randomized clinical trial of Plantago ovata seeds (dietary fiber) as compared with mesalamine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol 1999;94:427-433.
(2) Does Psyllium Provide Insoluble Fiber?
https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/much-soluble-insoluble-fiber-per-day-6686.html
https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/78644
Can you take psyllium while on the elemental IBD diet?
You cannot use stool bulking or softening agents like Psyllium, if you are on an exclusively elemental diet – only if you are combining Absorb Plus with regular foods.
Is there anything you could recommend for constipation while on the elemental diet?
For chronic constipation, please check here: https://listentoyourgut.com/natural-remedy-constipation/
If the constipation is due to the Elemental diet, please check here: https://blog.listentoyourgut.com/bowel-issues-on-an-elemental-diet/
Do you know anything about the risk of lead in Bentonite clay? Apparently, bentonite clay contains high amounts of lead, which are released when it interacts with stomach acid. This seems to apply to all bentonite clay, not just specific products and there doesn’t seem to be a product available that addresses this issue or is tested for lead. I am wary of trying it for this reason. Thanks
Hi Caitlin, Jini provided detailed information on this topic at https://blog.listentoyourgut.com/does-bentonite-put-lead-into-your-stomach/