What to Do to Avoid Choking After Taking Psyllium Husks

Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet. The bulk in fiber helps prevent constipation, diarrhea and hemorrhoids, and may help prevent such serious conditions as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, colon cancer and heart disease. Psyllium fiber, a type of soluble fiber that comes from seeds and husks of the Plantago ovata plant, becomes a gel-like substance when mixed with water. Because the mixture is so thick, it presents a risk of choking for many people.

Soluble and insoluble fiber aid healthy digestion and prevention of disease. Soluble fiber such as psyllium husks partially dissolve in water and are also found in such foods as seeds and nuts, legumes, oat bran, apples, strawberries, pears and blueberries. Soluble fiber slows the movement of food through the intestines, which may lower blood cholesterol and lower blood sugar levels. Insoluble fiber, found in such foods as whole wheat bread, brown rice, wheat bran, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes and celery, do not dissolve in water. Insoluble fiber provides bulk and has a laxative effect by speeding up the elimination of waste.

Choking results when psyllium husks aren't consumed with an adequate amount of water. To prevent the substance from swelling in the throat and esophagus, mix psyllium husks with a full 8-ounce glass of water or other liquid, and then drink the mixture immediately. If the mixture still seems too thick, add additional liquid. Drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water throughout the day to keep the bulk of the psyllium moving through your digestive system.

Any dietary supplement should be used only after discussing the matter with your physician. This is especially true if you have kidney disease, or if you have any narrowing of the esophagus or obstruction of the intestinal tract. Fiber supplements such as psyllium husks may interact negatively or reduce the effectiveness of certain medications, including some types of antidepressants, seizure medications, cholesterol-lowering medications, diabetes medications, lithium, or digoxin. Often, medications are compatible with fiber supplements, but the two should not be taken at the same time.

There are alternatives for those who experience difficulty swallowing psyllium husks mixed with water. Psyllium is available in capsule and tablet form, and for people who prefer not to take pills, it is available in chewable wafers. Psyllium is also found in some breakfast cereals. Soluble fiber similar to the fiber found in psyllium is available from other sources that may be easier to ingest. Wheat dextrin or inulin, which is fiber from chickory root, do not thicken when mixed with water. Instead of stirring into water, they can be mixed with foods such as pudding, soup or ice cream.

Article reviewed by Craig Sanders Last updated on: Feb 15, 2012

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Why Don't I Feel Full After a Meal?

 Eating is meant to satisfy your appetite and your taste buds, but when you don’t feel full after a meal, this can lead you to either eat more or feel unsatisfied with your meal. If you’re trying to keep your weight under control, a failure to feel full can be cause for concern. Feeling satisfied after a meal is a complicated process that involves hormones and your brain. Understanding how feelings of fullness are triggered can help you determine why you don’t feel full after a meal.

Your stomach has receptors that send messages to your brain to tell it when you are full. Just as it takes a few rings to reach someone on the telephone, the messages between your stomach and brain aren’t instantaneous. Your stomach needs anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes to release the hormone cholecystokinin, which signals your brain that you are full, according to an article in the online "Ladies' Home Journal." If you are eating too quickly, your hormones may not be signaling that you are full.

Feeling full after eating a meal can be equal parts physical, such as your stomach stretching because it’s full, and mental. The mental part comes from the satisfaction associated with eating a meal. Your taste buds and your sense of smell can play a role in helping you feel full after a meal. If you have eaten very quickly, there’s a chance you may not feel as full as if you had slowly savored each bite. This is called mindful eating, in which enjoyment of food leads to increased feelings of satiety, according to Professor Kathleen J. Melanson, a registered dietitian quoted in "Ladies' Home Journal."

Volume and number of calories can affect your feeling of fullness. MayoClinic.com recommends eating foods that are low-energy dense, which means they are low in calories. When you eat low-calorie foods, you are able to eat more of them, which can stretch your stomach and activate the hormone receptors that trigger feelings of fullness. Think of it this way: Eating two chocolate chip cookies is equivalent to eating a full bowl of green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and low-calorie dressing. The cookies and the salad may have comparable calorie counts, but the salad is more likely to leave you feeling full. If you do not feel full after eating, consider switching to foods that have a low-calorie density.

For some, eating slowly and mindfully isn’t enough to create a feeling of fullness after a meal. This is because their bodies do not properly use the hormone leptin, which is associated with feelings of fullness and pleasure after eating, according to Harvard Health Publications. If you experience leptin resistance, your body may not accurately interpret the signals for feelings of fullness. As a result, you may not feel full after you have finished eating. Speak with your doctor if you are unsure whether your body is using leptin or digestion-related hormones properly.

Article reviewed by TimDog Last updated on: Apr 23, 2012

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What Protein Drink Is Best After Pancreas Surgery?

Your pancreas is a large gland between your stomach and small intestine. It secretes a variety of digestive enzymes and hormones, most notably insulin. The pancreas is susceptible to inflammation and dysfunction due to trauma, infection, alcoholism, drug use and dietary toxins. Pancreatitis is a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Recovery from pancreatic surgery requires temporary or permanent dietary changes. Protein drinks are beneficial after surgery because they are easy to digest and don’t burden the recovering pancreas. Protein drinks can be purchased ready-made, although making your own allows you to add your own fresh ingredients and save money, too.

Pancreatic resection, which entails removing a segment of the pancreas, is usually done on patients with pancreatic cancer. Recovery typically involves one week in the hospital and at least six weeks of rest and dietary modification at home before a return to normal life is considered. Pancreatic surgery affects the amount of insulin and digestive enzymes secreted. Reduced insulin secretion may worsen or increase the risk of diabetes. Reduced enzyme secretion significantly affects digestion, especially the breakdown of protein into amino acids, so dietary modification is a necessity after pancreatic surgery.

Dietary protein is necessary to build protein-based structures in the body such as muscle tissue, skin and other connective tissues. It’s also essential for healing injuries and synthesizing enzymes. As such, pancreatic surgery presents a serious dilemma because an injured pancreas needs protein to heal and make digestive enzymes, but it is unable to properly digest many forms of protein until it heals. Consequently, virtually all post-operative dietary recommendations involve avoiding difficult-to-digest protein such as red meat, chicken, pork and most legumes, especially if they are uncooked. Instead, patients are advised to consume readily digestible protein such as milk, soft cheeses, eggs, tofu and some fruits such as bananas and papaya. Protein supplements are also a good idea and can be easily added to drinks such as shakes and smoothies.

Protein supplements are readily digested and appropriate for patients recovering from pancreatic surgery. They also allow you to easily measure and control your protein intake. Whey, casein, egg albumin and soy extracts are common protein supplements available in powders, which can be mixed with a variety of liquids including water, milk and fruit and vegetable juices. Furthermore, milk-based protein such as whey and casein, as well as supplements derived from eggs or soybeans, are complete sources of protein because they contain all the essential amino acids.

There are many protein drinks on the market, but making your own allows you to control the amount of protein, while avoiding preservatives, additives and excessive amounts of sugar and artificial sweeteners. An injured pancreas cannot control blood sugar levels effectively or metabolize chemicals efficiently, so fresh, natural ingredients are important. As long as you’re not lactose intolerant, using low-fat milk as the base for a protein drink is a good idea because it contains protein and a variety of minerals and vitamins. Blending in bananas and peanut butter increases protein content, and adds additional fiber, vitamins and minerals. Any of the above mentioned protein supplements mix well with milk, although you could also use raw eggs, tofu or yogurt if you don’t like a powdery texture. Papaya and pineapple contain some protein, and are also rich in proteolytic enzymes that digest protein. Consequently, using fresh papaya or pineapple juice as a base for a protein drink is a good idea.

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; A. Fauci et al.Nutrition and Wound Healing: a Vital Role in Wound Management; Wendy ReardonArticle reviewed by Paula Martinac Last updated on: Jul 4, 2012

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