Most of us don’t get enough fiber in our diets, even though it is extremely beneficial to our overall health. The struggle seems to be a common question… where do I get the fiber from? Look no further – psyllium is here to save the day!
What is psyllium? Well.. it comes from the husks of the plant Plantago ovata, also known as Isphagula. But that is neither here nor there! What you really need to know is that psyllium can improve your health in so many ways.
Laxative Like Qualities
Psyllium is a “bulk forming laxative” which means it makes your bowel movements easier without increasing flatulence or causing any bloating. Crazy, right? Drawing water up in your gut and moving everything along with ease.
Prebiotic Function
Psyllium is a prebiotic – meaning it feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut. This is super important for a happy gut! We want the bacteria in our gut to be healthy and flourishing because this supports our immune systems. Hooray!
So… how do you add psyllium into your diet? Well, there are many ways to incorporate psyllium in. Putting it into smoothies is the easiest way, but adding it to baked goods or energy balls is another amazing way to get that fiber in. Since psyllium draws water in, it makes an excellent binder in cookies, doughs, and so much more.
Check out this high fiber breakfast cookie recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups large flake rolled oats
- ⅓ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- ⅓ cup raw sunflower seeds
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup almond meal
- 2 tbsp ground flax seed
- 2 tbsp psyllium powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup water
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, almond meal, flax, psyllium and salt together in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients, mix well and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Once dough has firmed up, use a ⅓ cup measuring cup to portion out cookie dough. Roll into balls and flatten slightly.
- Bake for 20 minutes, allow to cool completely.
Enjoy!
Yours in health,
Daniela
