Plantago ovata is a plant that is primarily grown in Iran and India and contains stalks that have seeds, which are called psyllium. It has been used in Indian culture for hundreds of years. The seeds are covered in a husk which forms a gel like substance containing mucilage, that finds its way into foods to add fiber, especially breakfast cereals, and contains much higher water soluble fiber than oats or barley. The United States is one of the largest importers of psyllium, as high as 60%, and mucilages are found in products, such as Metamucil.
Psyllium fiber is not broken down as it passes through the system and has no other nutritional value besides being a source of fiber. By adding water to psyllium fiber, it swells to ten times its original size, so it finds its way into weight loss products. The combination of a low fat diet, low in saturated fats and cholesterol plus the addition of psyllium can reduce cholesterol due to reduced absorption by the intestines. It has also been found that psyllium fiber incorporated into food products is effective at lowering levels of blood glucose.
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