Chia seeds have become a social media sensation, with enthusiasts claiming they can normalise your bathroom routine.
Dr Karan Raj recently took to TikTok to respond to a video of a woman who declared herself “the most constipated person” before finding relief through chia seeds, which made her “regular” from the first day she started consuming them.
While he acknowledged that this is one of the few TikTok health trends with merit, he was keen to suggest an alternative to chia seeds that could be even more beneficial for overall health.
He conceded: “Chia seeds are a great source of fibre and can help with constipation and keeping you regular”.
He advised those new to high-fibre diets: “If you do this and you’re not a big fibre person, then start low and go slow”, warning that “Too much fibre too quickly, especially the insoluble fibre kind can cause bloating and cramps”.
“But chia seeds only treat constipation – what if there was something that helped with different types of pooping and gut health in general? “, he posed the question.
His recommendation?
Psyllium husk a substance that “It thickens up loose poop and softens up hard poop”.
He praised its benefits, noting that it “has a higher amount of soluble fibre”, making it superior to chia seeds. He pointed out that psyllium husk contains about 80% soluble fibre compared to the 10% found in chia seeds.
This indicates that “it forms a better viscous gel-like substance in the intestines and attracts more water so it softens the stool more, adds more bulk and provides even more stool regularity”.
Additional commentary from the expert included his remark that there’s “more research” supporting the use of psyllium husk.
In the ensuing discussion, confusion arose about purchasing sources, but Holland and Barrett emerged as a suggested outlet for psyllium husk. It was noted that 180 capsules are priced at £14.49.