More than 17 million Americans took over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss products (‘96-‘97), more than ¼ of young obese women and 8% of normal-weight women use nonprescription weight loss products, and more than 1/3 of women and 1/10 of men who use prescription weight loss products also use OTC products. Direct-to-consumer advertising has dramatically increased the sales of products for weight loss.

Psyllium or Ispaghula is the common name used for several members of the plant genus Plantago whose seeds are used commercially for the production of mucilage.Psyllium husk comes from the crushed seeds of the Plantago ovata plant, an herb native to parts of Asia, the Mediterranean and North Africa. The psyllium seed husks have been used in herbal remedies. Similar to oats and wheat, psyllium is rich in soluble fiber.

Psyllium seed is a natural substance and belongs to the bulk forming agents. It is used:

a) for the treatment of habitual constipation,

b) in conditions in which easy defaecation with soft stool is desirable, e.g. in cases of painful
defaecation after rectal or anal surgery, anal fissures and haemorrhoids.

c) Psylium husks provide high levels of fiber that is unequalled in removing accumulated wastes effectivly. Acidophilus is added to help replace any benefical bacteria that may be removed from the intestinal walls.

When taken properly internally, Psyllium helps overcome chronic constipation. Psyllium has a unique action in the bowels as it can act as a demulcent or emollient, it can be used to either stop diarrhea or to do away with constipation, depending on the technique used. These hydrophilic bulking qualities have made it popular for weight loss programs as it fills the gastrointestinal tract with a bulk that is mostly calorie free, thus doing away with the urge to eat and helping to reduce excess weight.

The present invention is directed to a novel chemical composition intended for ingestion by humans and a method which aids in weight loss. In particular, when the chemical composition of the present invention is ingested by a human prior to eating a meal, the composition acts to absorb and bind undigested fat to a fibrous agent so as to promote its rapid elimination from the human body.

The American Diabetes Association and other scientific organisations now recommend that diabetics consume diets containing between 30 and 40 g of fibre daily, even recognising that the amount of fibre necessary to improve the glycaemic profile is between 2 to 3 times greater than the amount of fibre consumed by the population of many developed countries.

Soluble Fiber (20 grams per day for several months) from beans, oats, psyllium seed, and fruit pectin has lowered cholesterol levels in most trials. Doctors often recommend that people with elevated cholesterol eat more of these high soluble fiber foods.Recent studies also showed positive benefits of psyllium in IBD (Crohn's Disease and Colitis)

The result is a significant reduction in cholesterol levels over time, which may help prevent heart disease and stroke. Intake of soluble fiber may also improve glucose tolerance in people with diabetes. Psyllium husk, pectin, and the soft parts of fruits, dried beans, and peas are examples of soluble fiber.

Also available as Psyllium seed husk which is a dietary fiber from Plantago ovata that increases stool weight and promotes laxation by its presence in stool and by increasing the moisture content of stool.Add a teaspoon of sugar-free psyllium powder (found in all grocery stores) to a glass of water and drink it with each meal. Psyllium absorbs a lot of water and gives you a sense of fullness.Fiber remains in the gut and thus may increase subjective feelings of fullness and decrease food intake.

The suggested intake of psyllium husks to treat constipation is 1 teaspoon (approximately 5 grams) three times per day. Alternatively, some references suggest taking 2-6 teaspoons (10-30 grams) of the whole seeds per day-typically taken in three even amounts throughout the day.

Eating more fiber can be an important component to weight maintenance. Fiber fills people up,so they eat less; some studies find that soluble fibers work best. While soluble fiber can be found in beans and fruit, it is also available as a supplement. Glucomannan1 and psyllium contain soluble fiber and have been reported to help weight loss efforts in some studies. Some researchers add 10 or more grams per day to the diet.