Side Effects Of Psyllium

Diarrhea

Psyllium is often used to help treat diarrhea due to its fibrous laxative properties. However, some individuals might find the supplement actually causes diarrhea. Like other digestive issues, this is more likely if individuals take a high dose without letting their body get used to the substance. Different individuals will react in different ways, and so it's important to use low dosages first. Psyllium is used by some patients to help relieve mild and moderate cases of diarrhea, though it won't be effective for all cases. The mechanism of action is the soaking up of water inside the digestive tract. This firms the stool and causes it to be passed through the bowel more slowly. However, if individuals have too much psyllium in their bowels, the waterlogged material can cause loose stools. Patients should take care when taking any digestive supplement for the first time and make sure they're in an environment where they can handle any potential digestive distress.

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Increased Gas

One of the potential issues many individuals note when they increase the fiber in their diet is the amount of gas they pass. Many patients taking fibrous dietary supplements find their gas also increases. Psyllium doesn't actually increase the amount of gas the body produces. The same is true of fiber that comes from methylcellulose, another common dietary supplement. With that said, it's still common for individuals who take psyllium to experience bloating. A bloated feeling occurs when the stomach feels like it's full of more gas, water, or solid matter than it should be. While there hasn't been a great deal of research regarding the reason for this, some experts theorize it's because the fibrous material slows gas from being transported through the intestine. This leads to increased feelings of discomfort because the gas seems to be trapped in the abdomen. Some individuals might experience bloating and intestinal discomfort when first taking psyllium, but these feelings may taper off as their bodies become used to the dose.

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