f.
what else you should know
whole
psyllium seed
P. ovata is a flower-producing annual that reaches about a foot in height, features opposite leaves and enjoys a cool, dry climate and well-drained, sandy soil. It is cultivated as source of dietary fiber and plant-based mucilage. A single plant yields an average of 15,000 tiny seeds.
In the United States, psyllium seed is considered a dietary supplement and is not regulated, even though the country is the largest importer of the crop with the majority ending up in over-the-counter products. Psyllium seed is used as an additive to livestock feed and in grass seed formulas as a moisture-retention agent. It is also used in the food industry to thicken ice cream and to enrich cereals.
The seed coat contains up to 12 percent mucilages in the form of arabinoxylans, a cellulose material found in the cell walls of many cereal grains and woods. P. ovata contains the highest level of mucilage and dietary fiber than other members of the Plantago family.
