It’s the end of March and I almost forgot about a terrific article that I saw in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It was the February issue: “Know Your Heart.” A friend of mine called me and said, ” You just got a great mention in this article.” Well, Easton is a small town but that Saturday I went out and, after a few stops, I found the issue. Now I want to share it with you.
As we age, there are things we all must learn. Managing your health — and especially being heart healthy — is one of the essentials. Did you know that 1 in 3 women dies from heart disease, a problem that is largely preventable? The article goes on to suggest that, with regular exercise, a proper diet and also adding some supplements, you can help decrease the risk.
The first addition to your daily routine is to start adding soluble fiber. We have all heard about adding fiber; it’s in all the papers and on TV. Yet what this article recommend? Why, psyllium, of course.
I know, I know, psyllium is used as a laxative and you’re saying, “I don’t need a laxative.” Psyllium has more uses. Clinical studies done with both oatmeal and psyllium were reviewed by the FDA. The Food and Drug Administration review found that there was a heart health benefit. In fact, you can reduce your cholesterol anywhere from 10-15% by adding these fibers to your daily routine. So how much psyllium do I need per day? Well, the article says 10 to 12 grams per day. (Check our chart of recommended amounts of Konsyl psyllium fiber products.)
Now the two products that I know about which are registered as over the counter (OTC) drugs are Metamucil and Konsyl. Everyone knows Metamucil because Proctor & Gamble has done a wonderful job in advertising this product.
You may not know about Konsyl but you may want to take a minute and learn about us. Konsyl is the only OTC product which contains ONLY 100% Natural Psyllium. This is important because you want the most bang for your buck. The other benefit of Konsyl is that it does not contain any fillers, sugars or flavors. If you’re watching your glucose levels, this is great to know.
I know you’re thinking psyllium is hard to mix. Not if you know the secret. Add it to your favorite juice in a shaker cup or use a whisk. It blends up just right!!! You can also get creative and find ways of making it right for you (get psyllium recipe ideas here).
Now, don’t try to start taking too much at once because as a all-natural product, it takes time to adjust your routine. As a lot of smart people tell me: “You cannot run a marathon until you learn to do a 3K first.” So start off with a smaller dose (1/4 teaspoon) and build up to a level you are comfortable with. It takes all of one minute! Less time than it takes to brush your teeth — and you do that every day, don’t you??
Face it : Your life is not practice, it is the real deal! We have to learn how to manage our good health and Iwould rather do that then to have to take medicine the rest of my life. So if your cholesterol levels are borderline high, why not try the natural solution? Why not try Konsyl? And don’t forget you can still get this trial pack of Konsyl psyllium (which comes with the shaker cup!) for less than $3.
Have a good day.
The Fiber Guy
P.S. Take a look at your grocery or pharmacy shelf. Konsyl is right there with the other fiber supplements — look for the burgundy cap. You can also make it easy and order online. Here’s a list of stores that carry Konsyl.
Notes from the VP 